Hearing the Heartbeat of Atoms: Unveiling Attosecond Horizons

Abstract

The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics spotlights the techniques to generate attosecond light pulses. The generation of attosecond pulses heralds a new era in understanding electron dynamics. This perspective traces the evolution of ultrafast science, from early microwave electronics to the recent breakthroughs in attosecond pulse generation and measurement. Key milestones, such as high harmonic generation, the RABBITT method, attosecond streaking camera, etc, illuminate our journey toward capturing the transient electron motions in atoms. Recent discoveries, including zeptosecond delays in H 2 single-photon double ionization and the potential of attosecond “electron” pulses despite challenges, etc., hint at an exciting future for ultrafast studies.