Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Agostini, Krausz, and L’Huillier • Hacker News Board

Re: Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Agostini, Krausz, and L’Huillier

#11

Post by solarist » Tue, Oct 03, 2023, 10:14 AM UTC

dagw wrote: post #9

mdisc0rd wrote: post #3

Can someone ELI5 what exactly they discovered?

A way to turn a light on and off really really fast. If you want an ELI13-and-paid-attention-in-science-class then this covers it pretty well https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2023/10/popular-physicspr...

Like, realy realy realy fast, one billionth of one billionth of a second.

Re: Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Agostini, Krausz, and L’Huillier

#12

Post by gary_0 » Tue, Oct 03, 2023, 10:15 AM UTC

I found some details about the prizewinning research here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferenc_Krausz#Research

Re: Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Agostini, Krausz, and L’Huillier

#13

Post by v3ss0n » Tue, Oct 03, 2023, 10:15 AM UTC

[flagged]

Re: Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Agostini, Krausz, and L’Huillier

#14

Post by wiz21c » Tue, Oct 03, 2023, 10:16 AM UTC

solarist wrote: post #11

dagw wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A way to turn a light on and off really really fast. If you want an ELI13-and-paid-attention-in-science-class then this covers it pretty well https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2023/10/popular-physicspr...

Like, realy realy realy fast, one billionth of one billionth of a second.

what is it useful for ? (honnest question)

Re: Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Agostini, Krausz, and L’Huillier

#15

Post by solarist » Tue, Oct 03, 2023, 10:18 AM UTC

wiz21c wrote: post #14

solarist wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like, realy realy realy fast, one billionth of one billionth of a second.

what is it useful for ? (honnest question)

It's like using flash when photographing, with these ultra short pulses one could see how electrons move inside atoms and molecules.

Re: Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Agostini, Krausz, and L’Huillier

#16

Post by thrownawaysz » Tue, Oct 03, 2023, 10:18 AM UTC

Hungary 2 in 2 so far

Re: Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Agostini, Krausz, and L’Huillier

#17

Post by dagw » Tue, Oct 03, 2023, 10:19 AM UTC

wiz21c wrote: post #14

solarist wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Like, realy realy realy fast, one billionth of one billionth of a second.

what is it useful for ? (honnest question)

You know how strobe light photography lets you 'freeze' very fast moving things so you can study what they look like mid motion. This is used for basically that, except for much much smaller things moving much much faster.

Re: Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Agostini, Krausz, and L’Huillier

#18

Post by Majestic121 » Tue, Oct 03, 2023, 10:22 AM UTC

thrownawaysz wrote: post #16

Hungary 2 in 2 so far

There is something about Hungary and extremely smart people : https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/05/26/the-atomic-bomb-consid...

Re: Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Agostini, Krausz, and L’Huillier

#19

Post by mongol » Tue, Oct 03, 2023, 10:24 AM UTC

solarist wrote: post #15

wiz21c wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what is it useful for ? (honnest question)

It's like using flash when photographing, with these ultra short pulses one could see how electrons move inside atoms and molecules.

You will need a really low f-stop if the exposure is one attosecond

Re: Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to Agostini, Krausz, and L’Huillier

#20

Post by ivan_gammel » Tue, Oct 03, 2023, 10:31 AM UTC

v3ss0n wrote: post #13

[flagged]

It is not how it works. First, they haven’t really made yet a verified discovery. They may be into something but years may pass before it will be designated as a scientific breakthrough. Then their work must be considered influential enough so that they will be nominated by someone who can do that. Then they must be selected by the committee. It is a long journey and many other discoveries are being made along the way reducing their chances. So there’s absolutely no reason to think they could have received a Nobel Prize this year.