The Nobel Physics Prize has been awarded for research on attoseconds, incredibly brief time intervals, enabled by laser technology. Attoseconds are one billionth of a billionth of a second, crucial for understanding electron behavior. Electrons’ rapid movements impact all electronics, currently limited to nanoseconds. Harnessing attoseconds could accelerate data processing by a billion times. Measuring attoseconds involves ultra-short laser pulses, resembling high-speed electron cinema. Scientists have set records, with the shortest pulse at 43 attoseconds. The potential applications of attosecond technology include controlling electrons for faster electronics and innovative chemistry, paving the way for efficient solar cells and clean fuel production.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/attoseconds-are-now-nobel-prize-winning-physics-so-what-are-they