# The moment I looked into an atom with my own eyes…

Author: Charles Haworth · Published: 2022-01-29 · URL: https://charleshaworth.com/the-moment-i-looked-into-an-atom-with-my-own-eyes/ · Category: Tips & Productivity

A profound moment during my time as a laser scientist.

I saw the power of quantum mechanics in real life, and it blew my mind.

As a second-year Physics PhD student, working in a laser lab. I enjoyed my undergrad at Imperial College London but struggled with the theoretical side. My forte was engineering and project management.

I wanted to be excited by the maths but struggled.

## Building lasers

Lasers are amazing tools as you can precisely control light.



Femtosecond Laser System

I was part of a team that built a high power, ultrafast laser system which could be used to blast jets of gas. From this light/matter interaction we could measure x-rays emitted and use this to freeze-frame the quantum mechanical interaction as the laser light smashed the atoms apart.



Looking inside atoms

This is where the theoretical physicists come in.

## Linking theory with reality and seeing the magic of science

It was during a weekly team meeting when the theory guy was showing some simulations of our system when I saw it.

He was explaining that his quantum mechanical calculations indicated that we should see “fringes” on our x-rays, due to the way the electrons in the atoms were being accelerated in our laser beam.



We could do this! I ran downstairs, fired up the laser, adjusted the parameters… and voila… fringes in the x-rays… 🤯

I was staring directly into the heart of an atom in real-time.

## Maths and quantum mechanics govern everything

This was a profound moment for me, being able to take years of study and finally connect it to reality.

Science is so beautiful, I wish more people would learn its secrets, it can open your mind to how wonderful our existence is.