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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

Article

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.

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
PublisherSpringer Nature (Nature Portfolio)
Open Access TypeNature (Hybrid)
Date3 July 2026
Date of publication08 Jul 2026 07:03
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
Regensburg Center for UltrafastNanoscopy (RUN)
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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