A postdoctoral researcher at the ETH Zurich research group used the device to generate the shortest laser pulses in the world. Generally in the movement of atoms and molecules, scientists are able to study all movements of atoms and molecules in their basic time range. The range of molecular rotation is on the order of picoseconds (10-12 seconds), their atomic vibration range is on the order of femtoseconds (10-15 seconds), and the range of electron movement is on the order of attoseconds (10-18 seconds).
In this study, researchers obtained a soft X-ray laser pulse with a very wide spectral bandwidth from an infrared laser pointer. Therefore, by exciting its inner shell electrons, we can directly observe various elements including phosphorus and sulfur. Both elements are present in biomolecules, and they can now be viewed with unprecedented time resolution.
It is understood that attosecond laser spectrometer is not only suitable for observation, but also can directly manipulate chemical reactions. Using green laser pointer pulses can change the course of the reaction-it can even break chemical bonds by stopping the charge transfer at one location in the molecule. In the past, targeted interventions in such chemical reactions were not possible, because the time scale of electron movement in molecules has not been reached before.