Researchers at the University of Oldenburg’s Institute of Physics are working on techniques for precision control of electric fields of light, which allow the dynamics of individual electrons to be manipulated in experiments. Now a team from the Attosecond Microscopy research group, led by Dr. Jan Vogelsang, has taken a decisive step toward this goal.

In a paper published in the journal Applied Physics B —Lasers and Optics, the researchers present a laser system that generates 200,000 light pulses per second. Six Oldenburg researchers collaborated with members of a research group led by physics Nobel laureate Anne L’Huillier at Lund University in Sweden to perform a detailed characterization of the laser system.

During the experiments, the precise position of the light wave—consisting of infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye—remained extremely stable even over periods of several hours. The stable light fields resulting from a continuous series of identical light pulses make experiments on electron control possible—foundational research that could eventually lead to the development of devices such as ultrafast transistors that operate at the speed of light.