The Royal Academy of Sciences announced the 2023 Nobel laureates in physics in a large chamber with a large screen on October 3, and the majority of the atomic physics division at Lund University gathered to await the announcement. Anticipation was nevertheless evident, despite Nobel’s impeccable confidentiality.
The screen, which displayed the laureates, including the image of our colleague Anne L’Huillier, elicited a resounding round of acclaim that nearly caused the large lasers in the basement to become misaligned.
Nevertheless, L’Huillier was not visible; she had been delivering a lecture to the students.
A laser facility that was recently constructed
Approximately thirty years ago, the atomic physics division in Lund was considering a new research direction. Ultimately, the domain of high-power laser-matter interaction was selected. In 1992, we acquired a terawatt laser, an incredibly uncommon laser that is capable of emitting 10 ultrashort pulses per second, in order to achieve this objective.
This was facilitated by robust academic partnerships with prominent laser groups in the United States and Europe, as well as industrial partners. This system for conducting advanced research in a novel area of atomic physics was arguably the most alluring at the time, thanks to the Wallenberg Foundation’s benevolent assistance (a significant participant in Swedish research financing).
During this period, L’Huillier was a budding researcher in France. Only a few years prior, in 1987, she disclosed the generation of numerous light harmonics during the transmission of infrared laser light through a noble gas as a result of the interaction between the gas and laser.
By utilizing our newly constructed facility, we were able to persuade L’Huillier to visit Lund with her own specialized experimental apparatus. This occurred without any difficulty, as we had previously visited the CEA Saclay Center, where she was employed, during the project preparation process. In addition, I had extended an invitation to her to deliver a keynote address at the inauguration ceremony of our recently constructed facility in Lund.
It was immediately apparent that L’Huillier was a highly prospective physicist in both theory and experimentation upon our arrival on-site for the experiments. The initial collaborative paper was published in 1993.
L’Huillier was satisfied with Lund and elected to remain for a variety of reasons. She was initially appointed to a lectureship and subsequently transitioned to a funded dedicated professorship. This situation was fortunate for Lund, as L’Huillier could have easily obtained prestigious positions in other locations.
She was similarly remarkable in her dedication to mastering Swedish. This assertion conveys a significant amount of information. Despite the fact that English is the native language for international endeavors, such as science, in a small country like Sweden, L’Huillier became genuinely proficient in our “exotic” language.
I promptly transferred the management and direction of the high-power laser laboratory to Claes-Goran Wahlstrom and L’Huillier. The field has made considerable progress, and Lund is now acknowledged as a preeminent center for this intriguing research domain, thanks to the contributions of numerous talented collaborators.
L’Huillier pursued her research on high harmonics with fervor, assembling attosecond laser pulses. The Nobel Prize was ultimately awarded to her for her contributions in these fields, which allowed scientists to explore the realm of particles at extraordinarily high speeds.
Particularly, she was capable of illustrating that processes that were previously believed to occur instantly necessitate an exceptionally brief latency to manifest.
Resolute and modest
Quite simply, L’Huillier is extraordinary. Nevertheless, she has consistently maintained a relatively calm demeanor. She places a high value on her colleagues and students. She may be an exceptional physicist because she is modest and uninterested in renown and notoriety. She pursues science with integrity and without regard for compromise.
She serves as a role model for both male and female young scientists by illustrating how exceptional scientific inquiry can be harmoniously integrated with fervent instruction.
Subsequently, during a class break, L’Huillier conversed with the Royal Academy of Stockholm. Subsequently, she arrived at our residence, radiant and overjoyed. It was clear that this was her most significant accomplishment; it was the diamond, in addition to the numerous accolades she had already received.
The festivities were maintained by both the university administration and students throughout the afternoon. For L’Huillier, there was an interminable stream of interviews. I am confident that she will forever embody the benevolent and modest individual whom we have all come to venerate, despite the transformative moment she will undoubtedly experience upon receiving the preeminent scientific accolade.
We extend our most sincere congratulations to our “own” Nobel laureate! Her modest demeanor and extraordinary accomplishments continue to captivate the souls of all of us.
