A group of scientists from the University of Arizona, led by Professor Mohammed Hassan, developed revolutionary microscope, capable of fixing the movement of electrons in real time. This achievement opens up new horizons in the study of quantum physics and chemistry.
The new device is an advanced version of the translucent electron microscope. Its uniqueness lies in the ability to generate ultra-short electronic pulses lasting only one attosecond (10^-18 seconds). For comparison, an attosecond belongs to a second in the same way as a second to the age of the universe. This impulse passes through the test sample, slowing down and changing the shape of the wavefront of the electronic beam. Then the slowed beam increases with the help of the lens, heading for fluorescent material, which shines when electrons hit it. Combining an electronic pulse with two carefully synchronized luminous flows, scientists were able to explore ultra-fast movements inside atoms.
Electrons move at a speed of about 2200 kilometers per second, meaning an electron can fly around the Earth in 18.4 seconds. The ability to observe the movement of such quick particles opens up unprecedented opportunities for scientists.
The study is fundamental for quantum physics and chemistry. However, due to the high speed of these particles, their study has always been a serious problem. A breakthrough in this area occurred in the early 2000s when physicists developed methods for generating attosecond impulses. This achievement was marked by the Nobel Prize in 2023, but even it did not allow observations with such accuracy.
Professor Hassan referred to the new technology as “Attomicroscopy.”
The results of the study were published on August 21 in the journal Science Advances. A microscope can have a wide practical application in various fields of science and technology, from the development of new materials to the creation of more effective electronic devices. Attomicroscopy will allow scientists to better understand the mechanisms of charge transfer, the behavior of electrons in semiconductors and liquid water, as well as the processes of breaking chemical bonds between atoms.