Intense light bent out of shape—ultrafast lenses made from gas
Researchers from the MPIK in Heidelberg used an atomic gas as a time-dependent lens to shape and spectrally manipulate intense high-frequency laser pulses. This gas-based optical element could pave the way toward better XUV- and X-ray pulse control for applications such as chemical reaction steering, quantum computing, and advanced spectroscopy methods for fundamental science. The paper is…
Researchers from the Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik in Heidelberg have developed an ultrafast lens made from an atomic gas to shape and manipulate intense high-frequency laser pulses in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) spectral range. This innovative approach could lead to better control of XUV- and X-ray pulses for applications in chemical reaction steering, quantum computing, and advanced spectroscopy methods.
Conventional optical components struggle to effectively manipulate XUV photons due to their strong absorption, making this gas-based lens a promising alternative for precise control of high-energy light at the attosecond scale.
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