Progress in the investigation of ultrafast electron dynamics using short light pulses

When electrons move within a molecule or semiconductor, this occurs on unimaginably short time scales. A Swedish-German team, including Dr. Jan Vogelsang from the University of Oldenburg, has now made significant progress towards a better understanding of these ultrafast processes: The researchers were able to track the dynamics of electrons released from the surface of zinc oxide crystals using laser pulses with spatial resolution in the nanometer range and at previously unattained temporal resolution.