On April 27, Professor Anne L’Huillier, the winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics from Lund University, visited Jilin University together with Professor Claes-Göran Wahlström, academician of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and Professor of Atomic Physics at Lund University. Professor Zhang Xi, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of Jilin University, welcomed the guests and presented Professor Anne L’Huillier with the letter of appointment as Honorary Professor of Jilin University.
Zhang Xi warmly welcomed Professors L’Huillier and Wahlström on becoming an Honorary Professor of Jilin University. He introduced the university’s recent development and progress in academic disciplines . He noted that Physics is a flagship discipline of Jilin University. Through the efforts of several generations of researchers and educators, the university has developed strong research fields including high-pressure physics, computational physics, and atomic and molecular physics, cultivating a large number of outstanding talents for the nation and society. He also expressed hope that the two professors will continue to support the development of atomic and molecular physics at Jilin University, help attract outstanding young talents, and further advance exchanges and cooperation between Jilin University and Lund University.
Professor Anne L’Huillier reflected on her long-term academic collaboration with scholars from Jilin University and shared her research experiences in the field of attosecond science. She expressed her hope to further strengthen research cooperation with Jilin University and support the development of related disciplines and the growth of young researchers at the university.
Following the appointment ceremony, Professor Anne L’Huillier delivered a lecture titled The Route to Attosecond Light Pulses as part of the Dingxin Lecture Series celebrating the 80th anniversary of Jilin University. Zhang Xi attended the lecture and presented Professor L’Huillier with the Dingxin Lecture Commemorative Plaque. The lecture was hosted by Luo Sizuo, Deputy Director of the Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics.
In her lecture, Professor L’Huillier explained the concept of attoseconds in a clear and accessible way, and reviewed development of attosecond science from its theoretical beginnings to technological advances. She explained that attosecond light pulses enable precise measurement of the time electrons take to escape from atoms, with the shortest timescale reaching merely tens of attoseconds. This allows scientists to unravel the mysteries of electron dynamics inside atoms and molecules, providing new research methods fields such as quantum physics and condensed matter physics. At present, attosecond technology has been applied in chemistry to observe and control electron movement during chemical reactions, and is expected to contribute further breakthroughs in numerous fields in the future. During the Q&A session, Professor L’Huillier answered questions from students andencouraged them to stay passionate about scientific research, remain persistent when facing challenges, and work together to solve difficult problems.
Professor Anne L’Huillier is a Professor of Atomic Physics at Lund University. Her research focuses on the generation of attosecond light sources and attosecond atomic physics. In recognition of her groundbreaking contributions to experimental methods that generate attosecond light pulses used to study electron dynamics in matter, she was awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics together with Professors Pierre Agostini and Ferenc Krausz.
Relevant representatives from the Institute of Atomic and Molecular Physics and the Office of Global Engagement of Jilin University attended the event.
