Context: The Nobel Prize in Physics for 2023 has gone to three scientists whose work made it easier to observe electrons, and which has potential applications in the field of diagnosing diseases and developing electronic gadgets.

• They were acknowledged for their exploration of the world of electrons within atoms and molecules.

• The 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser, and Anton Zeilinger. They were recognised for their groundbreaking work in the realm of entangled photons, wherein they demonstrated the violation of Bell inequalities and made pioneering contributions to the field of quantum information science.

About their Works

• Agostini, Krausz and L’Huiller developed a new way to create extremely short pulses of light that can be used to measure the rapid processes by which electrons move or change energy.

• Their experiments helped produce pulses of light so short that they can be measured in attoseconds.

• This means that the pulses can be used to provide images of the processes inside atoms and molecules.

• An attoseconds is equal to a quintillionth (10−18) of a second.

• The research conducted by the Laureates over a span of several decades allowed them to investigate processes that were so rapid that they were previously impossible to follow.

• This new technology is important to understand and control how electrons behave in a material.

Their Journey to Success

1. Anne L’Huillier’s Discovery: In 1987, L’Huillier discovered that laser light waves interacting with noble gases could provide some electrons with extra energy, which was then emitted as light. She continued to develop this concept.

2. Pierre Agostini’s Breakthrough: In 2001, Agostini successfully generated consecutive light pulses, each lasting just 250 attoseconds.

3. Ferenc Krausz’s Contribution: Simultaneously, Krausz’s experiments isolated single light pulses lasting 650 attoseconds, providing invaluable insights into atomic processes.

Significance of their Work

• Unveiling Electron World: Atto-second physics, as their work is known, has opened doors to understanding mechanisms controlled by electrons.

• Eva Olsson’s Insight: According to Eva Olsson, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, this breakthrough allows us to comprehend electron-driven phenomena and explore their practical applications.

• Potential Medical Application: Studying molecular-level changes in blood using these techniques could aid in disease identification.

• Advanced Electronics: A deeper understanding of electron can contribute to the development of more efficient electronic devices.

What are electrons?

• An electron is a negatively charged subatomic particle that can be either bound to an atom or free (not bound).

• An electron that is bound to an atom is one of the three primary types of particles within the atom -- the other two are protons and neutrons.

Key features

• Electrons are unique from the other particles in multiple ways.

• They exist outside of the nucleus, are significantly smaller in mass and exhibit both wave-like and particle-like characteristics.

• An electron is also an elementary particle, which means that it is not made up of smaller components.

• Protons and neutrons are thought to be made up of quarks, so they are not elementary particles.