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Maier, Simon ; Spachtholz, Raffael ; Glöckl, Katharina ; Bustamante, Carlos M. ; Lingl, Sonja ; Maczejka, Moritz ; Schön, Jonas ; Riedel, Alexander ; Richter, Klaus ; Giessibl, Franz J. ; Bonafé, Franco P. ; Huber, Markus A. ; Rubio, Angel ; Repp, Jascha ; Huber, Rupert

Tracking electrons at the space-time limit

Maier, Simon , Spachtholz, Raffael, Glöckl, Katharina , Bustamante, Carlos M., Lingl, Sonja, Maczejka, Moritz, Schön, Jonas, Riedel, Alexander, Richter, Klaus, Giessibl, Franz J. , Bonafé, Franco P., Huber, Markus A. , Rubio, Angel , Repp, Jascha and Huber, Rupert (2026) Tracking electrons at the space-time limit. Nature Photonics.

Date of publication of this fulltext: 08 Jul 2026 07:03
Article
DOI to cite this document: 10.5283/epub.79752


Abstract

The dynamics of an electronic wavefunction often have non-trivial consequences on its spatial distribution, for example, during tunnelling or chemical bond formation. Yet, revealing spatio-temporal coupling requires ultrafast videography at the intrinsic size of electronic wavefunctions, at the so-called space-time limit. Here we experimentally access the intrinsic quantum motion of individual ...

The dynamics of an electronic wavefunction often have non-trivial consequences on its spatial distribution, for example, during tunnelling or chemical bond formation. Yet, revealing spatio-temporal coupling requires ultrafast videography at the intrinsic size of electronic wavefunctions, at the so-called space-time limit. Here we experimentally access the intrinsic quantum motion of individual electrons at the space-time limit while they are tunnelling through an energy barrier, using atomic-scale lightwave-driven scanning tunnelling microscopy with attosecond time resolution. While modulating the tunnelling barrier with two time-delayed near-infrared pulses forming phase-controlled single-cycle waveforms, isolated electron tunnelling transients shorter than 1 fs are identified. The measured spatial extension depends on the interplay of multi-photon and field-driven dynamics, as confirmed by full quantum simulations. We experimentally localize the attosecond-confined tunnelling wave packet on the angstrom scale and use it to map a single copper adatom on a silver surface. This fusion of attosecond science with atomic-scale scanning tunnelling microscopy makes it possible to study wavefunction dynamics inside atoms, molecules and solids.



Involved Institutions


Details

Item typeArticle
Journal or Publication TitleNature Photonics
Publisher:Springer Nature (Nature Portfolio)
Open Access Type:Nature (Hybrid)
Date3 July 2026
InstitutionsPhysics > Halle-Berlin-Regensburg Cluster of Excellence CCE
Physics > Institute of Theroretical Physics > Chair Professor Richter > Group Klaus Richter
Physics > Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics
Physics > Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics > Chair Professor Giessibl > Group Franz J. Giessibl
Physics > Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics > Group Jascha Repp
Physics > Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics > Chair Professor Huber > Group Rupert Huber
Projects
Funded by: Europäische Kommission (EU) (951519)
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (314695032)
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (UNSPECIFIED)
Funded by: Europäische Kommission (EU) (101071259)
Identification Number
ValueType
10.1038/s41566-026-01932-0DOI
Dewey Decimal Classification500 Science > 530 Physics
StatusPublished
RefereedYes, this version has been refereed
Created at the University of RegensburgYes
URN of the UB Regensburgurn:nbn:de:bvb:355-epub-797521
Item ID79752

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