Can we make atoms sing and molecules dance? Using fast light pulses to observe and control nature"
Abstract
During the past decade, there has been a revolution in the field of ultrafast lasers. Visible light pulses of only a few optical cycles in duration can now be generated from a simple laser. These laser pulses can be used to literally rip atoms apart, generating "laser-like" x-ray beams in the process. Moreover, using computer algorithms, we can "teach" a laser to generate a properly shaped light pulse in time, that allows us to force an atom to radiate laser-like x-rays of specific wavelengths. This allows us, for example, to channel laser energy into a specific x-ray wavelength, or to force molecules to vibrate along a particular bond. This work is a first step towards using light as a catalyst to control chemical reactions. "Shaped-pulse optimisation of coherent soft-x-rays," Nature 406, 164 (2000). "Direct observation of surface chemistry using ultrafast soft-x-ray pulses", Physical Review Letters 87, 25501 (2001). "Fully spatially coherent EUV beams generated using a small-scale laser", Science 297, 376 (2002).
- Publication:
-
APS April Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004APS..APRJ14003M