Speaker
Ferenc Krausz
(MPI Garching)
Description
Electronic motion is a key process in a wide range of modern
technologies, including micro- to nano-electronics,
photovoltaics, bioinformatics, molecular biology, and
medical as well as information technologies. The
atomic-scale motion of electrons typically unfolds within
tens to thousands of attoseconds (1 attosecond [as] =
10-18 s). Recent advances in laser science have
opened the door to watching and controlling these hitherto
inaccessible microscopic dynamics [1]-[14]. Key tools
include waveform-controlled few-cycle laser light and
attosecond extreme ultraviolet pulses. They permit control
of atomic-scale electric currents just as microwave fields
control currents in nanometer-scale semiconductor chips. By
analogy to microwave electronics, we have dubbed this new
technology "lightwave electronics" [10,12]. Lightwave
electronics provides - for the first time - real-time
access to the motion of electrons on atomic and sub-atomic
scales. Insight into and control over microscopic electron
motion are likely to be important for developing brilliant
sources of X-rays, understanding molecular processes
relevant to the curing effects of drugs, the transport of
bioinformation, or the damage and repair mechanisms of DNA,
at the most fundamental level, where the borders between
physics, chemistry and biology disappear. Once implemented
in condensed matter, the new technology will be instrumental
in advancing electronics and electron-based information
technologies to their ultimate speed: from microwave towards
lightwave frequencies.
[1] M. Hentschel et al., Nature 414, 509 (2001)
[2] R. Kienberger et al., Science 291, 1923 (2002)
[3] A. Baltuska et al., Nature 421, 611 (2003)
[4] R. Kienberger et al., Nature 427, 817 (2004)
[5] E. Goulielmakis et al., Science 305, 1267 (2004)
[6] M. Drescher et al., Nature 419, 803 (2002)
[7] M. Uiberacker et al., Nature 446, 627 (2007)
[8] M. Kling et al., Science 312, 246 (2006)
[9] A. Cavalieri et al., Nature 449, 1029 (2007)
[10] E. Goulielmakis et al., Science 317, 769 (2007)
[11] E. Goulielmakis et al., Science 320, 1614 (2008)
[12] F. Krausz, M. Ivanov, Rev. Mod. Phys. 81, 163 (2009).
[13] M. Schultze et al., Science 328, 1658 (2010). E. Goulielmakis et al., Nature 466, 739 (2010).
[1] M. Hentschel et al., Nature 414, 509 (2001)
[2] R. Kienberger et al., Science 291, 1923 (2002)
[3] A. Baltuska et al., Nature 421, 611 (2003)
[4] R. Kienberger et al., Nature 427, 817 (2004)
[5] E. Goulielmakis et al., Science 305, 1267 (2004)
[6] M. Drescher et al., Nature 419, 803 (2002)
[7] M. Uiberacker et al., Nature 446, 627 (2007)
[8] M. Kling et al., Science 312, 246 (2006)
[9] A. Cavalieri et al., Nature 449, 1029 (2007)
[10] E. Goulielmakis et al., Science 317, 769 (2007)
[11] E. Goulielmakis et al., Science 320, 1614 (2008)
[12] F. Krausz, M. Ivanov, Rev. Mod. Phys. 81, 163 (2009).
[13] M. Schultze et al., Science 328, 1658 (2010). E. Goulielmakis et al., Nature 466, 739 (2010).
