An attosecond is 1×10−18 of a second (one quintillionth of a second). For context, an attosecond is to a second what a second is to about 31.71 billion years.
The word "attosecond" is formed by the prefix atto and the unit second. Atto- was derived from the Danish word for eighteen (atten). Its symbol is as.
An attosecond is equal to 1000 zeptoseconds, or 1⁄1000 of a femtosecond. Because the next higher SI unit for time is the femtosecond (10−15 seconds), durations of 10−17 s and 10−16 s will typically be expressed as tens or hundreds of attoseconds:
Times which can be expressed in attoseconds:
0.247 attoseconds: travel time of a photon across "the average bond length of molecular hydrogen"24 attoseconds: the atomic unit of time43 attoseconds: the shortest pulses of laser light yet created53 attoseconds: the second-shortest pulses of laser light created82 attoseconds (approximately): half-life of beryllium-8, maximum time available for the triple-alpha process for the synthesis of carbon and heavier elements in stars84 attoseconds: the approximate half-life of a neutral pion100 attoseconds: fastest-ever view of molecular motion320 attoseconds: estimated time it takes electrons to transfer between atoms referenceEver curious about what that abbreviation stands for? fullforms has got them all listed out for you to explore. Simply,Choose a subject/topic and get started on a self-paced learning journey in a world of fullforms.
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