Scientists take first snapshots of ultrafast switching in a quantum electronic device

Graphic of a computer chip in center, depiction of snapshot of atoms moving in response to a sharp pulse of electrical excitation and at right researchers using the ultrafast atomic technology

A research team from the DOE's SLAC National Accelerator Lab, Stanford University, Hewlett Packard Labs, Penn State University and Purdue University have taken the first snapshots of atoms moving inside the tiny switches that control the flow of electric current. They have discovered, among other things, a short-lived state that might someday be exploited for faster and more energy-efficient computing devices.