Scientists create shortest hard X-ray pulses ever

Scientists have created the shortest hard X-ray pulses ever recorded, achieving pulses as brief as 60-100 attoseconds. This breakthrough opens new possibilities in fields like quantum optics and molecular electron visualization. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in collaboration with others, used X-ray free-electron lasers to generate the pulses. They focused these powerful pulses onto copper or manganese samples, observing strong lasing phenomena and spectral broadening. The achievement could revolutionize research by enabling the study of electron dynamics within molecules. The team's findings, published in Nature, represent a significant advancement in X-ray laser technology, pushing the boundaries of what's possible.