Physicists Inadvertently Generated the Shortest X-Ray Pulses Ever Observed (theconversation.com) 18
Physicists using SLAC's X-ray free-electron laser discovered two new laser phenomena that allowed them to generate the shortest, highest-energy X-ray pulses ever recorded (60-100 attoseconds). These breakthroughs could let scientists observe electron motion and chemical bond formation in real time. Physicists Uwe Bergmann and Thomas Linker write in an article for The Conversation: In this new study we used X-rays, which have 100 million times shorter wavelengths than microwaves and 100 million times more energy. This meant the resulting new X-ray laser pulses were split into different X-ray wavelengths corresponding to Rabi frequencies in the extreme ultraviolet region. Ultraviolet light has a frequency 100 million times higher than radio waves. This Rabi cycling effect allowed us to generate the shortest high-energy X-ray pulses to date, clocking in at 60-100 attoseconds.
While the pulses that X-ray free-electron lasers currently generate allow researchers to observe atomic bonds forming, rearranging and breaking, they are not fast enough to look inside the electron cloud that generates such bonds. Using these new attosecond X-ray laser pulses could allow scientists to study the fastest processes in materials at the atomic-length scale and to discern different elements.
In the future, we also hope to use much shorter X-ray free-electron laser pulses to better generate these attosecond X-ray pulses. We are even hoping to generate pulses below 60 attoseconds by using heavier materials with shorter lifespans, such as tungsten or hafnium. These new X-ray pulses are fast enough to eventually enable scientists to answer questions such as how exactly an electron cloud moves around and what a chemical bond actually is. The findings have been published in the journal Nature.
While the pulses that X-ray free-electron lasers currently generate allow researchers to observe atomic bonds forming, rearranging and breaking, they are not fast enough to look inside the electron cloud that generates such bonds. Using these new attosecond X-ray laser pulses could allow scientists to study the fastest processes in materials at the atomic-length scale and to discern different elements.
In the future, we also hope to use much shorter X-ray free-electron laser pulses to better generate these attosecond X-ray pulses. We are even hoping to generate pulses below 60 attoseconds by using heavier materials with shorter lifespans, such as tungsten or hafnium. These new X-ray pulses are fast enough to eventually enable scientists to answer questions such as how exactly an electron cloud moves around and what a chemical bond actually is. The findings have been published in the journal Nature.
Pretty damned cool (Score:3)
So many uses and discoveries ahead
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Talk about dumbing it down... (Score:2, Funny)
FTFA:
X-rays help doctors take snapshots of your body, while microwaves can heat up your lunch.
I feel dumber just for having read that. I mean, if you didn't know this already then what business do you have reading the rest of the article?
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Uh, Wouldn't– (Score:2)
observing electrons motion collapse the electron cloud wavefront?
Or is the observer effect just an artifact of theorization?
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Save your student politics for another forum.
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Its going to have some effect on the reaction they're trying to observe. I guess they're hoping that the reaction to the xrays is slower than obtaining an image from them.
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Uh, Wouldn't observing electrons motion collapse the electron cloud wavefront? Or is the observer effect just an artifact of theorization?
Yes, using these highly energetic X-ray pulses to measure a system completely destroy the system you are measuring. What they usually do is run the same reaction over and over measuring it at different times. Then combine those into a series of measurements. A bit like how a strobe light works, if it destroyed everything it hit and you rebuild the target before every flash.
One-photon challenge (Score:1)
I'm looking forward to a time when we can produce single photons on demand of any wavelength except maybe the extremely short and the extremely long.
Ultraviolet light has a frequency 100 million time (Score:2)
How much ultraviolet light fits in a Olympic swimming pool?
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Is the ultraviolet light in the room with us at this time?
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impressive that they've managed to not mention the X-Ray frequency because they probably think people would not understand petahertz but toss around attosecond like it is an everyday word and everybody knows how short it is
60-100 attoseconds... (Score:3)
We have nothing to compare 100 attoseconds with. With times this short, we should denote it in meters of light.
In this case 100 attoseconds = 30 nm of light.
Watson... come here! (Score:2)
I need yo.. Bzzt Bzzt Bzzt.
Oops.
Pinky, are you thinking what I'm thinking? (Score:2)
I think so Brain but what if using 60 attosecond X-Ray pulses on Ice XXI does not in fact make the perfect cup of tea?