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welcome to attoworld

dear visitor
Welcome to Attoworld, the cosmos of the fastest processes that occur in nature outside the atomic core. Electrons dance to the beat of lightwaves in billionths of a billionth of a second. They also form the orchestra making these waves which allow us to see the world around us and observe the universe and the microcosm. At Attoworld our aim is to control this dance, to steer the motion of electrons bound to atoms or free electrons moving at the speed of light by using ultrashort flashes of laser light. Experimental attosecond physics is a young discipline. Attosecond pulses and controlled light waves were first observed in Vienna in 2001 and 2003, respectively. We still remember this experience vividly. From then on the world of the fastest processes could no longer escape human observation and control.
The key to controlling the flow of energy and information at the atomic scale is electron steering with light forces. Once achieved, this capability will revolutionize many areas of 21st century science and technology. On this website we open up our laboratories and give you an insight into our work, visions and the team spirit that makes progress possible. Here at Attoworld you can share in our excitement about uncovering the mysteries of electrons in motion. We wish you an inspiring visit to Attoworld!
Ferenc Krausz

 

Our research is primarily funded by the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (MPG)link to external webpage, by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)link to external webpage, among others via the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize for F. Krausz, by the European Research Council (ERC)link to external webpage through the ERC Advanced Grant for F. Krausz and the ERC Starter Grants for R. Kienberger and E. Goulielmakis, and draws on MPQ’s and LMU’s state-of-the-art infrastructure.internal link
Snapshot of a red light wave recorded with attosecond X-ray pulses. Providing conclusive evidence for the existence of reproducible attosecond pulses and constituting the first direct observation of a light wave. This attosecond-resolution photograph taken in 2004 has been chosen as the logo of the Joint LMU-MPQ Laboratory of Attosecond Physics (LAP) established in the same year. An attosecond is a billionth of a billionth of a second.
Snapshot of a red light wave recorded with attosecond X-ray pulses. Providing conclusive evidence for the existence of reproducible attosecond pulses and constituting the first direct observation of a light wave. This attosecond-resolution photograph taken in 2004 has been chosen as the logo of the Joint LMU-MPQ Laboratory of Attosecond Physics (LAP) established in the same year. An attosecond is a billionth of a billionth of a second.
Similar photo revealing 80-attosecond soft-X-ray pulses, the shortest reported to date; taken in 2008.
Similar photo revealing 80-attosecond soft-X-ray pulses, the shortest reported to date; taken in 2008.