Nanowerk
Using three-dimensional light fields to control electrons
“With our method, we can generate electronic quantum states that have previously only been described theoretically and also make them spatially visible,” explains Prof. Dr Matthias Wollenhaupt, who leads the research team.
Using an interferometer, the researchers split laser light into two beams of different colours. They then superimposed these in a vacuum chamber to create 3D light fields, which they used to manipulate electrons. (Image: University of Oldenburg / Matthias Knust)
To generate the 3D light fields, the team superimposed two specially shaped femtosecond laser pulses.
The latter are extremely short bursts of light that last just a few millionths of a billionth of a second.
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