Israeli Scientists Control Electron Movement With Two-Color Laser
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Israeli Technion physicists have learned to control electron tunneling current direction using a two-color laser, achieving 860 attosecond bursts. This technique, published in Nature Photonics, uses laser pulses to direct electron flow and filter out thermal noise. The breakthrough allows for observing electron movement at the atomic level and may advance light-wave controlled electronics. The microscope operates at room temperature and in open air.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Technion physicists can now control electron tunneling current direction with a two-color laser.
- The breakthrough achieved 860 attosecond electron current bursts, the shortest recorded.
- The new method uses laser pulse color delay to direct electron flow and reduce noise.
- The research, published in Nature Photonics, enables observation of electron movement in materials.
- This advancement could lead to future electronics controlled by light waves.
Physicists at Israel's Technion have developed a method to control the direction of tunneling current in a microscope using laser pulses, achieving the shortest recorded bursts of 860 attoseconds. This breakthrough allows for the observation of electron movement within materials, a feat previously hindered by thermal noise and the minuscule duration of these processes. The research, published in Nature Photonics, utilized a scanning tunneling microscope with an extremely sharp needle. By bringing the needle close to a material's surface, electrons can tunnel across a gap, creating a current that maps the surface's topography. The new technique employs infrared laser pulses, each containing two colors. By precisely adjusting the time delay between these colors, scientists can manipulate the shape of the light wave, directing electrons either from the needle to the sample or vice versa. This precise control also helps to isolate the ultra-short current from heat-induced noise. Theoretical models, compared with experimental measurements, revealed current bursts lasting 860 attoseconds, with the light field described as facilitating electron tunneling, accelerating the electrons, and driving them into the material. The microscope maintained its sensitivity to height variations smaller than an angstrom, operating at room temperature and in open air. The development process took several years, involving extensive adjustments to laser systems and optical setups to reliably distinguish the short current from noise, according to co-author Adi Goldner. The researchers believe this advancement will enable the observation of electron movement at specific points within materials and could drive future developments in electronics where light waves control currents.