Researchers have achieved a groundbreaking advance in quantum mechanics by manipulating atomic structures and quantum states using extreme ultraviolet (XUV) light pulses. This innovative technique, demonstrated at Italy’s Elettra Synchrotron, allows scientists to control chemical reactions via light, potentially transforming chemical processes and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Led by Prof. Lukas Bruder from the University of Freiburg, the project involved collaboration with 14 international institutions, including the Politecnico di Milano and various National Research Council institutes.
The team successfully manipulated quantum systems by sculpting the amplitude, phase, and polarization of ultrashort XUV light pulses, enabling precise control over the temporal evolution of quantum states. Their experiments focused on helium atoms, showing that they could adjust electronic energy levels and measure electron motion with remarkable accuracy. Dr. Cristian Manzoni from CNR-IFN highlighted the study’s extension of coherent control into the XUV and X-ray spectral regions, allowing for the manipulation of chemical reactions towards desired products. Prof. Giulio Cerullo emphasized that harnessing light as a chemical reagent could enhance the efficiency of producing specialized molecules, opening new avenues in pharmaceutical applications. This pioneering research was published in the journal Nature.
