Physicists Develop New Method to Track Electron Motion in Real Time
- AKAP
- May 8, 2023
- 3 min read
Physicists at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics have developed a novel method to track the motion of electrons in a strong infrared laser field in real time. The technique involves linking the absorption spectrum of an extreme ultraviolet pulse to the subsequent motion of the free electrons driven by a near-infrared pulse. By applying this method to helium, they were able to study ultrafast dynamics and confirm quantum-dynamics theory. The experiment revealed that circularly polarized light increased the probability of electron re-collision with the ion, a finding predicted by theorists. This approach opens up possibilities for studying electron dynamics in larger atoms or molecules.