Constructing an ultrafast voltmeter with femtosecond time resolved nonlinear optics

在飞秒时间尺度上测量电荷载流子的运动为了解物质中发生的最基本的过程提供了一个窗口。太阳能电池、晶体管和光电探测器等技术都依赖于电子在以纳米为单位的距离内的快速移动。这些技术的成败在很大程度上取决于我们预测和控制这些超快过程的能力。此外，几种生物分子的功能依赖于光引发的电子转移事件或长程电荷传导。总体而言，对电荷传输过程的详细了解有助于在物理科学的许多学科中提供深远的见解。

Measuring the motions of charge carriers on femtosecond timescales provides a window into the most elementary processes that occur in matter. Technologies like solar cells, transistors, and photodetectors all depend upon the rapid movement of electrons over distances measured in nanometres. The success or failure of these technologies depends, in large measure, on our ability to predict and control these ultrafast processes. In addition the function of several biomolecules depends upon either photo-initiated electron transfer events or long range charge conduction. In general, a detailed understanding of charge transport processes provides far-reaching insight across many disciplines in the physical sciences.