Attosecond Science
Real time observation of electron dynamics in matter
We CFEL-ATTO develop advanced attosecond technologies to investigate the light-activated dynamics of matter with extreme time resolution. In particular, the main goal of our research is to track and ideally control the electronic motion in systems of increasing complexity, from simple molecules to biochemically relevant molecules and nanoparticles.
Recent highlights
CFEL-ATTO receives funding through PIER Seed Projects
20 May 2021
Vincent Wanie from the CFEL-ATTO group has been selected by the Partnership for Innovation, Education and Research (PIER) to fund a project titled ‘HIGH-repetition-rate ultraviolet beamLine for hIGH-statistics spectroscopy at the few-femtosecond Timescale [HIGHLIGHT]’.
Real-time observation of a correlation-driven sub 3 fs charge migration in ionised adenine
20 May 2021
Our group (CFEL-ATTO) with the key participation of the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) has demonstrated that ultrashort laser pulses can be used to protect one of the DNA building blocks against destruction induced by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation. We unveiled that a second laser flash in the infrared, timed shortly (only a few millionths of billions of a second) after the first VUV flash, prevented the adenine molecule to disintegrate, therefore stabilising it. We presents our work in the journal Communications Chemistry published by Nature publishing group.
HELIOS Helmholtz-Lund International Graduate School
19 January 2021
On January 19th we had our virtual launch event with talks on instrumentation challenges in atomic, laser, particle and nano-bio physics. Our first cohort of PhD students gave interesting and engaging presentations about their projects. We are proud to have assembled such a talented and multi-disciplinary team, which will further grow over the coming years.
Andrea Trabattoni became Helmholtz Young Investigator
06 November 2020
Our team leader Andrea Trabattoni was awarded the Helmholtz Young Investigator Groups Program. Andrea will create a new team within our group and study the photo-induced electron dynamics involved in nuclear transitions.