Attosecond
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An attosecond is an SI unit of time equal to 10−18 of a second. (one quintillionth of a second).[1] For context, an attosecond is to a second what a second is to about 31.71 billion years, or twice the age of the universe.[2][3]
The word "attosecond" is formed by the prefix atto and the unit second. Atto- was made from the Danish word for eighteen (atten).[4] Its symbol is as.
An attosecond is equal to 1000 zeptoseconds, or 1/1000 of a femtosecond. Because the next higher SI unit for time is the femtosecond (10−15 seconds), durations of 10−17 s and 10−16 s will typically be expressed as tens or hundreds of attoseconds:
- 1 attosecond – the time it takes for light to travel the length of three hydrogen atoms.
- 12 attoseconds – record for shortest time interval measured as of May 12, 2010.[5]
- 24 attoseconds – the atomic unit of time.
- 80 attoseconds – the shortest pulses of laser light yet created.[6]
- 100 attoseconds - fastest ever view of molecular motion[7]
- 200 attoseconds (approximately) – half-life of beryllium-8, maximum time available for the triple-alpha process for the synthesis of carbon and heavier elements in stars.
- 320 attoseconds – estimated time it takes electrons to transfer between atoms.[8]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "attosecond". Memidex/WordNet Dictionary/Thesaurus. http://www.memidex.com/attosecond. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
- ^ Electron Motion Filmed, Feb. 28, 2008
- ^ Exploring "Attosecond" Time. Visualising an Attosecond... How short is an attosecond?
- ^ atto- [A toh] (Danish or Norwegian: eighteen; a decimal prefix used in the international metric system for measurements). Wordinfo.info (2007-04-05). Retrieved on 2011-01-23.
- ^ "12 attoseconds is the world record for shortest controllable time". http://www.physorg.com/news192909576.html.
- ^ Fastest-ever flashgun captures image of light wave – tech – 19 June 2008 – New Scientist. Technology.newscientist.com. Retrieved on 2011-01-23.
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4766842.stm Science, 312, p424, April 2006 http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/312/5772/424
- ^ Electron timed hopping between atoms – physics-math – 20 July 2005. New Scientist. Retrieved on 2011-01-23.
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