Central Idea

Anne L’Huillier, Pierre Agostini, and Ferenc Krausz have been honored the 2023 Physics Nobel Prize for their groundbreaking experiments, providing humanity with new tools to explore the inner workings of electrons within atoms and molecules.

Measuring Rapid Electron Processes

Tracking electron movement: Their work has enabled the creation of extremely short pulses of light, lasting only ato-seconds (1×10−18 of a second), allowing for the measurement of the lightning-fast processes through which electrons move or change energy.
Observing Subatomic Motion: Electrons, the tiny particles that orbit the nucleus within atoms, move at astonishing speeds, making real-time observation impossible.
High-Shutter-Speed Analogy: The trio’s research can be likened to a high-shutter-speed camera freezing motion to capture clear images. Similarly, they’ve achieved the ability to “freeze” electron movement using ultra-short light pulses.

Anne L’Huillier’s Discovery: In 1987, L’Huillier discovered that laser light waves interacting with noble gases could provide some electrons with extra energy, which was then emitted as light. She continued to develop this concept.
Pierre Agostini’s Breakthrough: In 2001, Agostini successfully generated consecutive light pulses, each lasting just 250 attoseconds.
Ferenc Krausz’s Contribution: Simultaneously, Krausz’s experiments isolated single light pulses lasting 650 attoseconds, providing invaluable insights into atomic processes.

Unveiling Electron World: Atto-second physics, as their work is known, has opened doors to understanding mechanisms controlled by electrons.
Eva Olsson’s Insight: According to Eva Olsson, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, this breakthrough allows us to comprehend electron-driven phenomena and explore their practical applications.
Potential Medical Application: Studying molecular-level changes in blood using these techniques could aid in disease identification.
Advanced Electronics: A deeper understanding of electron can contribute to the development of more efficient electronic devices.