attosecond

noun

at·​to·​sec·​ond ˈa-(ˌ)tō-ˌse-kənd How to pronounce attosecond (audio)
-kənt
: one quintillionth (10−18) of a second
An attosecond is to a second what a second is to the age of the universe.IEEE Spectrum

Examples of attosecond in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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An attosecond is a billionth of a billionth of a second. IEEE Spectrum, 28 May 2024 Electrons move and their energies shift at the miniscule timescale of attoseconds. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Oct. 2023 At the atomic level, the motions of electrons and nuclei typically take place over the course of attoseconds. Daniel Garisto, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2023 At the heart of this technique is attosecond x-ray absorption spectroscopy, which allowed the ICFO research team to study how electrons behave on timescales as short as a billionth of a billionth of a second (an attosecond) when exposed to powerful infrared radiation. IEEE Spectrum, 9 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for attosecond 

Word History

Etymology

atto- + second entry 4

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of attosecond was in 1962

Dictionary Entries Near attosecond

Cite this Entry

“Attosecond.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attosecond. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.

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