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Atomic physics

Electrons get real

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Strong laser fields allow electrons to tunnel out of atoms. The response of such electrons to a second laser field supports the idea that they start tunnelling at a time defined by a complex number, but exit atoms at a 'real' time. See Letter p.343

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Figure 1: Quantum tunnelling and high-harmonic generation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Manfred Lein is at the Centre for Quantum Engineering and Space-Time Technology and at the Institute for Theoretical Physics, Leibniz Universität Hannover, 30167 Hanover, Germany.,

    Manfred Lein

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  1. Manfred Lein
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Correspondence to Manfred Lein.

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Lein, M. Electrons get real. Nature 485, 313–314 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/485313a

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