In a groundbreaking advancement in the field of quantum mechanics and ultrafast optics, Israeli scientists unveiled a new technique that could revolutionize high-speed computing and communication technologies.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute have discovered that intense laser pulses can change a material’s fundamental properties—such as conductivity and transparency—within attoseconds, a time scale so brief that light travels only the width of a hydrogen atom. Led by Prof. Nirit Dudovich, the team developed a dual-laser method that precisely tracks how electrons shift energy levels in real time.
This technique, likened to a navigation app for electrons, uses a second beam of attosecond pulses to measure light delay, revealing how materials respond to laser-induced changes. The breakthrough allows scientists to control material states at quantum speeds, paving the way for ultrafast processors and communication devices. These advances could dramatically boost data processing speeds and revolutionize quantum technologies.
Beyond computing, this approach could impact a broad range of fields, including high-speed optics, advanced sensors, and next-generation quantum materials. By manipulating how light interacts with matter on ultrafast timescales, scientists can explore new ways to design smarter, faster, and more efficient technologies.
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