Nobel Prize in Physics 2023: What the three scientists have been awarded for

What exactly have the scientists done?

An atom, a tiny unit into which matter can be divided, is composed of a nucleus of protons and neutrons, and electrons that travel around this nucleus. Electrons move so fast that it is impossible to observe them in real time. The work of L’Huillier, Agostini, and Krausz has brought humanity closer to observing and studying the movement of electrons, by producing pulses of light that last only attoseconds, which is 1×10⁻¹⁸ of a second.

Roughly, this can be compared to a high-shutter-speed camera. If a normal camera is used to capture a moving train, the image will be blurred. But a high shutter-speed camera can freeze motion and capture a clear image of the train.

How did they do this?

All three worked in the field for years. According to the Nobel website, back in 1987, L’Huillier discovered that when a laser light wave was passed through a noble gas, it interacted with the atoms, giving some electrons extra energy that was then emitted as light. She continued to work on this.

“In 2001, Pierre Agostini succeeded in producing and investigating a series of consecutive light pulses [or flashes of light], in which each pulse lasted just 250 attoseconds. At the same time, Ferenc Krausz was working with another type of experiment, one that made it possible to isolate a single light pulse that lasted 650 attoseconds,” said the Nobel website.

These flashes of light made it possible to provide images of processes inside atoms.

Why is this work important?

“We can now open the door to the world of electrons. Attosecond physics gives us the opportunity to understand mechanisms that are governed by electrons. The next step will be utilising them,” said Eva Olsson, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics.

One possible application is to study molecular-level changes in blood, to identify diseases.

A better understanding of how electrons move and transmit energy can also help in creating more efficient electronic gadgets.

Who are the scientists?

According to information given by the Nobel Prizes website about all three, Anne L’Huillier was born 1958 in Paris, France. She got her PhD in 1986 from University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris. She is currently a Professor at Lund University, Sweden.

Pierre Agostini got his PhD in 1968 from Aix-Marseille University, France.He is a Professor at The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.

Ferenc Krausz was born 1962 in Mór, Hungary. He got his PhD in 1991 from Vienna University of Technology, Austria. He is the Director at Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Garching, and Professor at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany.