2023 Nobel Prize in Physics Recognizes Pioneers of Attosecond Pulse Technology

• 04 Oct 2023

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, on October 3, 2023, announced that the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier for their groundbreaking work on experimental methods generating attosecond pulses of light for studying electrodynamics in matter.

Key Points:

• Revolutionary Experimental Methods: The Nobel Laureates in Physics 2023, Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier, are honored for their experiments that have provided humanity with new tools to explore the behavior of electrons within atoms and molecules.
• Their work has enabled the creation of incredibly short pulses of light, which have proven invaluable for observing rapid processes involving electron movement and energy changes.
• Observing Events in Attoseconds: The Laureates' experiments have allowed them to observe events occurring in as little as a few tenths of an attosecond, which is a quintillionth (10^-18) of a second.
• An attosecond is so infinitesimal that there are as many attoseconds in one second as there have been seconds since the birth of the universe.
• Illuminating the Inner World of Atoms and Molecules: These ultra-short light pulses have opened up the ability to capture images of the intricate processes happening inside atoms and molecules.
• Cash Award and Award Ceremonies: Nobel Prize laureates receive a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1 million), sourced from Alfred Nobel's bequest.