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.
- Received 29 April 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.152301
©2009 American Physical Society
Synopsis
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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