Applications

Ultrafast laser source technology is one of the most dynamic and cutting-edge frontiers in contemporary photonics. By generating extremely short pulses with durations on the order of femtoseconds (1 fs = 10⁻¹⁵ s) or even attoseconds (1 as = 10⁻¹⁸ s), it enables the precise delivery of optical energy within an extremely short time and confined spatial scale. This capability allows, for the first time, the "freezing" of atomic motions and electronic transitions in the microscopic world, and enables nearly heat-affected–free "cold" processing in material manufacturing. As a result, it has profoundly reshaped the landscape of both fundamental scientific research and high-end industrial manufacturing.

High-energy physics and attosecond science represent two of the most exciting and cutting-edge application fields of ultrafast laser sources. Together, they aim to explore the behavior of matter at extreme temporal (attosecond, 10⁻¹⁸ s) and spatial (atomic) scales, offering unprecedented time-resolved "cameras" to observe electron dynamics and atomic–molecular motion. This field not only drives fundamental scientific breakthroughs but also fosters key technologies such as terahertz generation, high-order harmonic generation (HHG), X-ray generation, and nonlinear optics. The synergy between high-energy physics and attosecond science is realized through extreme nonlinear interactions of intense femtosecond lasers with matter—whether gases, solids, or plasmas—producing broadband coherent light from terahertz to X-ray wavelengths, thereby providing novel probing tools for materials research. Currently, this field is experiencing rapid growth. Continuous advances in HHG, terahertz and X-ray generation, and nonlinear optics are steadily expanding the frontiers of our ability to observe and understand the microscopic world.

Ultrafast spectroscopy is an experimental technique that uses ultrashort laser pulses to study how matter responds to photoexcitation on timescales as short as femtoseconds (10⁻¹⁵ s) or even attoseconds (10⁻¹⁸ s). In the 1980s, with the successful development of femtosecond lasers, Ahmed Zewail and his colleagues achieved the first real-time observation of chemical reactions with femtosecond time resolution, marking the birth of modern ultrafast spectroscopy. This technique is primarily employed to explore ultrafast dynamic processes such as electronic transitions, lattice vibrations, and energy transfer in molecules and atoms, and has important applications across a wide range of interdisciplinary frontiers, including physics, chemistry, materials science, and biology.

Ultrafast microscopy is a cutting-edge scientific tool that integrates ultrafast laser technology with microscopic imaging techniques. It is designed to simultaneously achieve extremely high temporal resolution (from femtoseconds to attoseconds) and spatial resolution (from nanometers to submicrometers), enabling real-time observation of ultrafast dynamic processes in the microscopic world. The advancement of this field has, for the first time, allowed humanity to "film" the trajectories of atoms, molecules, electrons, and other microscopic particles on ultrafast timescales, playing an indispensable role across a wide range of disciplines—including physics, chemistry, materials science, and the life sciences.

Ultrafast micro- and nano-machining uses femtosecond or picosecond laser pulses to precisely process materials at the micron-to-nanometer scale. The extremely short interaction time minimizes thermal diffusion and heat-affected zones, enabling "cold processing" of brittle, transparent, and heat-sensitive materials, with key applications ranging from precision cutting and drilling to 3D structuring and surface functionalization.

Industrial processing with ultrafast lasers utilizes high-power femtosecond or picosecond pulses for precision manufacturing tasks such as cutting, drilling, marking, surface structuring, and welding. The ultra-short pulse duration minimizes thermal damage and enables sub-micrometer precision, making it ideal for high-value applications in automotive, semiconductor, medical device, aerospace, and consumer electronics industries.