Phys.org January 27, 2020
Measuring the shape of the laser light wave with high accuracy required for investigating materials to medical diagnostics requires a large, complex experimental setup. In their experiment an international team of researchers (Germany, Austria) hit a tiny crystal of silicon oxide with the laser pulse to be investigated. While this laser pulse penetrates the crystal, another strong infrared pulse is fired at the target changing the energy state of the electrons so that they become mobile. As soon as the electrons can move through the crystal, they are accelerated by the electric field of the first beam producing an electric current which is measured directly at the crystal. This signal contains precise information about the shape of the light pulse. The new method opens many interesting applications: It should be possible to precisely characterize novel materials, answer fundamental physical questions about the interaction of light and matter, and even analyze complex molecules, and reliably and quickly detect diseases by examining tiny blood samples…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Two laser pulses hitting a silicon dioxide crystal. Credit: Vienna University of Technology, TU Vienna