A short laser pulse can ionize a helium atom and change the quantum state of the remaining electron.
When a quantum system changes its state, this is called a quantum jump. Usually, these quantum jumps are considered to be instantaneous. Now, new methods for high-precision measurements allow us to study the time evolution of these quantum jumps. On a time scale of attoseconds, there time structure becomes visible. It is he most accurate time measurement of quantum jumps to date. Quantum particles can change their state very quickly, ie “quantum jump”. An atom, for example, can absorb a photon, thereby changing into a state of higher energy. With new methods, developed at TU Wien (Vienna), it is now possible to study the time structure of such extremely fast state changes...
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