Quantum tunneling is a phenomenon where particles like electrons pass through energy barriers they wouldn’t normally be able to cross. This process is crucial for understanding nuclear fusion, electronics, and more. However, scientists have long struggled to measure the time it takes for this tunneling to occur.
A new study has introduced a novel method that simplifies the measurement process, bringing clarity to this long-standing question. Researchers developed a phase-resolved attoclock technique, which relies on perfectly circular light waves and focuses on capturing the exact moment when electrons escape through energy barriers.
The team’s approach allows for pinpointing the tunneling time with unprecedented precision, down to a few attoseconds. This breakthrough could transform fields like drug development, nanotechnology, and quantum computing by enabling real-time chemical analysis.
While significant progress has been made, tiny delays still remain to be explored. The researchers plan to develop a next-generation tool, called a zeptoclock, which can measure time down to zeptoseconds – a thousand times shorter than attoseconds.
The study’s publication in Physical Review Letters suggests that this phase-resolved attoclock technique has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of quantum tunneling and ultrafast processes in atoms and molecules.
Source: https://interestingengineering.com/science/novel-attoclock-cracks-quantum-tunneling-time