JERUSALEM, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Israeli researchers precisely measured ultra-powerful laser pulses that last only a few femtoseconds -- millionths of a billionth of a second, Ben-Gurion University (BGU) said in a statement on Tuesday.
BGU noted that this achievement overcame a decades-old challenge in strong-field physics and attosecond science, and could contribute to future technologies in ultrafast electronics, advanced materials, and even next-generation medical imaging and diagnostics.
Amplified ultrafast laser pulses rank among the most intense bursts of energy ever created, momentarily surpassing the combined power output of all the world's power stations, though only for a few millionths of a billionth of a second.
In attosecond science experiments, these pulses are tightly focused to a spot smaller than the width of a human hair, where they interact with matter at extreme intensities.
Until now, accurately measuring the intensity and duration of these pulses at the point of interaction has been extremely difficult, with past techniques sometimes off by up to 50 percent. This has limited precision in laser-driven research.
In their new study, published in Nature's Light: Science & Applications, an Israeli team has developed an advanced method to accurately measure the intensity and duration of these ultrafast pulses, a crucial development for improving precision in laser-driven experiments.
The new technique directly measures the laser's properties by analyzing the ions -- electrically charged atoms -- generated when the laser interacts with a gas, which enables far more accurate readings at the point of impact.
Tested with gases like helium and argon, the method proved reliable and consistent. Their experimental results closely matched theoretical predictions, strengthening confidence in the approach.
The researchers noted that this advancement could significantly improve understanding of atomic and molecular behavior at ultrafast timescales and help drive innovation across various advanced technologies. ■
