STOCKHOLM. In recognition of their groundbreaking work in studying the rapid movements of electrons within atoms, three scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday. Their research in this field holds the potential to advance electronics and disease diagnosis.
The prestigious award was conferred upon Pierre Agostini, Hungarian-born Ferenc Krausz, and French-born Anne L’Huillier for their contributions to the understanding of the minute particles that orbit the nucleus of every atom. This fundamental knowledge has far-reaching implications for chemistry, physics, medicine, and technology.
Electrons move at astonishing speeds, making them extremely challenging to observe directly. However, by capturing a minuscule fraction of a second, known as an attosecond, scientists have managed to obtain a somewhat “blurry” glimpse of these electrons, ushering in new scientific possibilities.
Mats Larsson, a member of the Nobel Committee, emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, “The electrons are very fast, and the electrons are really the workforce everywhere. Once you can control and understand electrons, you have taken a very big step forward.”
To comprehend the movement of electrons at this scale, the researchers had to focus on an exceedingly short time frame—an attosecond, which is one quintillionth of a second. This is akin to a photographer using a high-speed shutter to capture the rapid motion of a hummingbird.
Eva Olsson, Chair of the Nobel Committee, illustrated the scale of an attosecond by comparing it to a heartbeat, stating that one second would need to be divided by 1,000 six times to reach an attosecond. Mark Pearce, a Nobel Committee member, further explained that there are as many attoseconds in a second as there are seconds that have passed since the Big Bang, approximately 13.8 billion years ago. This underscores the extraordinary brevity of an attosecond.
However, even with the ability to “see” electrons, there are limitations to what scientists can discern. L’Huillier, 65, noted, “You can see whether it’s on one side of a molecule or on the other. It’s still very blurry.” She added that electrons behave more like waves, akin to water waves, and their technique aims to measure the position of the wave crests.
Why Do Electrons Matter?
The experiments conducted by these scientists have equipped humanity with innovative tools to explore the intricate world of electrons within atoms and molecules, according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. While the current focus is on advancing our understanding of the universe, the potential practical applications include electronics, disease diagnosis, and basic chemistry.
L’Huillier, from Lund University in Sweden, emphasized the importance of pursuing fundamental science regardless of immediate applications. She dedicated 30 years to this research before the practical real-world implications became evident.
Reactions of L’Huillier and Krausz
L’Huillier recalled receiving the news while teaching and jokingly mentioned that it was challenging to finish the lesson. She expressed her immense joy at receiving the prestigious prize, emphasizing its significance as a woman in the field.
In Germany, Ferenc Krausz, 61, affiliated with the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, received the news via phone on a holiday. He mentioned, “My colleagues are enjoying their day off, but I hope that we will meet tomorrow, and then we will probably open a bottle of champagne.”
Pierre Agostini is associated with Ohio State University in the United States.
Each Nobel Prize carries a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million), funded by a bequest from Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel. The laureates are invited to receive their awards at ceremonies on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death.
The announcement of the Nobel Prizes continues with the chemistry prize on Wednesday and the literature prize on Thursday. The Nobel Peace Prize will be revealed on Friday, followed by the economics award on October 9.
