Israeli Scientists Solve Key Challenge in Ultrafast Laser Measurement
Israeli researchers have developed a method to precisely measure ultrafast laser pulses lasting only a few femtoseconds—millionths of a billionth of a second—solving a long-standing challenge in laser science. The breakthrough, led by a team at Ben-Gurion University and published in Light: Science & Applications, could improve technologies in medical imaging, advanced materials, and ultrafast electronics.
These powerful laser pulses are central to attosecond science, which explores phenomena occurring on timescales as short as one quintillionth of a second—fast enough to track the motion of electrons inside atoms and molecules. In experiments, the pulses are concentrated into tiny zones smaller than the width of a human hair, where they interact with matter at extreme energy levels.
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Until now, scientists had struggled to accurately measure both the strength and duration of these bursts at their point of impact, with previous methods sometimes deviating by as much as 50%. That lack of precision has limited the effectiveness of research in fields relying on ultrafast light-matter interaction.
The Ben-Gurion team overcame this by developing a technique that analyzes ions—electrically charged atoms—produced when the laser hits gases like helium and argon. The ionization patterns revealed the laser’s exact properties, and experimental results matched theoretical predictions closely.
Researchers say this improvement in measurement accuracy could deepen understanding of molecular and atomic dynamics and support the development of high-speed diagnostics, faster computing systems, and precision-engineered materials.
