Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier have received the Nobel Prize in Physics on Tuesday for developing techniques that shed light on the subatomic world of electrons. They utilized short light pulses to capture electrons’ movements, enabling scientists to study their behavior in unprecedented detail.
Eva Olsson, the chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, emphasized that attosecond science, which measures the relative positions of electrons in an atom, “allows us to address fundamental questions.”
Dr. L’Huillier laid the groundwork in 1987 by studying the effects of shining lasers through noble gases, leading to the discovery of short pulses of light that could be used to study electrons. Dr. Agostini and Dr. Krausz further advanced this research, making it possible to achieve pulses as short as a few dozen attoseconds today.
These attosecond pulses act as a subatomic “strobe light,” offering insights into the inner workings of atoms. While they don’t produce actual images, they reveal information about electron positions within molecules and atoms. This breakthrough could revolutionize fields like circuitry, drug design, materials for batteries, and noninvasive medical diagnostics.
Dr. L’Huillier, the fifth woman to win the Physics Nobel, expressed her happiness at receiving the prize, highlighting its significance due to the limited number of female laureates in the field. Dr. Krausz, caught off guard, reflected on the collaborative effort that led to their success, while Dr. Agostini, initially incredulous, acknowledged the mystery surrounding the timing of their recognition.
In related news, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their mRNA research, crucial in developing the Covid-19 vaccine.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and the Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will be announced later this week and next week. All announcements will be streamed live by the Nobel Prize organization.
