Dr. Lukas Bruder and a global team of researchers have achieved a significant milestone in quantum mechanics by creating and controlling hybrid electron-photon quantum states in helium atoms. Utilizing the FERMI free electron laser in Trieste, Italy, the team employed advanced laser pulse-shaping techniques to generate intense extreme ultraviolet light pulses. This research, published in Nature, demonstrates how high-intensity laser fields can manipulate electron energy levels, creating ‘dressed states’—new quantum states arising from the intense laser interaction.
The scientists found that applying laser intensities between ten and one hundred trillion watts per square centimeter can enable the formation and control of these states over brief timescales. The laser’s extreme ultraviolet radiation, with a wavelength under 100 nanometers, is critical for affecting electron states within helium. The researchers managed precise control by adjusting the timing of different laser color components using a seed laser pulse. Bruder noted that this breakthrough could lead to innovative quantum experiments and offer insights into chemical reactions with atomic precision, potentially revolutionizing the field of quantum research. Funding for this project came from multiple sources, including the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the European Research Council.
