Seminars Archive

The Attosecond Challenge

Abstract
Investigations of time evolution of physical systems have always been at the frontiers of fundamental research activities. Not more than a decade ago, availability of femtosecond (1fs=10-15 s) lasers pulses allowed for performing breakthrough direct observations of rotational and vibrational molecular motions (Zewail at al – 1999 Nobel Prize). However, the fundamental processes of chemistry, biology and materials science are mediated by even faster, electronic and nuclear motions which have attosecond (as) time-scales (1 as = 10-18 s). The scope of the talk is to overview the current status regarding the attosecond light sources research, including different aspects linked with the generation and metrology of the atto pulses. Roads to applications will also be presented with possible implication for synchrotron radiation related research.