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Yoctosecond Photon Pulses from Quark-Gluon Plasmas

Andreas Ipp, Christoph H. Keitel, and Jörg Evers
Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 152301 – Published 5 October 2009
Physics logo See Synopsis: The shortest known photon pulses

Abstract

Present ultrafast laser optics is at the frontier between atto- and zeptosecond photon pulses, giving rise to unprecedented applications. We show that high-energetic photon pulses down to the yoctosecond time scale can be produced in heavy-ion collisions. We focus on photons produced during the initial phase of the expanding quark-gluon plasma. We study how the time evolution and properties of the plasma may influence the duration and shape of the photon pulse. Prospects for achieving double-peak structures suitable for pump-probe experiments at the yoctosecond time scale are discussed.

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  • Received 29 April 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.152301

©2009 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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The shortest known photon pulses

Published 12 October 2009

A model of the quark-gluon plasma predicts it could emit the sort of ultrashort light pulses that would be useful for high-speed spectroscopy.

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Authors & Affiliations

Andreas Ipp*, Christoph H. Keitel, and Jörg Evers

  • Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany

  • *andreas.ipp@mpi-hd.mpg.de
  • joerg.evers@mpi-hd.mpg.de

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Issue

Vol. 103, Iss. 15 — 9 October 2009

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