New look at the microcosm of solids The attosecond time scale for measuring the time and distance that electrons cover between two adjacent atoms plays an important role in electronic and nuclear processes. Understanding the motion of electrons inside solids would further speed up data transmission and miniaturise electronic devices. Energy © Shutterstock Over the next few years, it will be possible to measure and unravel electronic processes in atoms, charge transfer reactions in molecules and electron dynamics of surface processes. Since its birth about ten years ago, attophysics research has flourished with attosecond-scale real-time measurements taking place mostly in gases. Within the ADONIS (Attosecond dynamics on interfaces and solids) project, scientists claimed the ability to measure electron transport in solids for the first time. Using special laser systems, the team focused attosecond pulses on a bulk solid with adsorbed atomic layers on it. They were able to observe electron transport in real time across atomic layers in a solid. Measuring the time an electron needs to travel between adjacent atoms represents one of the smallest possible length scales for electronic processes. Understanding electron motion on attosecond scales can enable the development of electronic technologies that can process data and information at speeds 100 000 higher than the current state-of-the-art. Keywords Solids, attosecond, electronic, data transmission, electron transport
