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Time

Just how long is 100 femtoseconds?

A duration of 100 femtoseconds is 1 × 10⁻¹³ seconds.

Fleeting instants

100 fs

Scale

ELAPSED TIME

100 femtoseconds

Time conversions use a Julian year of exactly 365.25 days.

100 fsTime
0
Atomic-scale transition

An atomic-scale transition is a rapid change in the energy state of an atom, often occurring in extremely short intervals.

1 fsTime
0
Both timelines start together. Length measures elapsed time, not a physical distance.

A little perspective

100 femtoseconds is about 100 times the duration of an atomic-scale transition.

Measurements, assumptions & sources +

100 femtoseconds

Time: 100 fs; definition.

Time conversions use a Julian year of exactly 365.25 days.

NIST — SI conversion factors

Atomic-scale transition

Time: 1 fs; reference interval.

A chosen femtosecond process interval; real transitions span many timescales.

Defined examples — our methodology

The marked time is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.

Measurement details

Why these numbers?

Compare 100 femtoseconds with the duration of an atomic-scale transition. The notes below explain how each value was chosen.

100 femtoseconds

100 fs

Time · definition

Time conversions use a Julian year of exactly 365.25 days.

Atomic-scale transition

1 fs

Time · reference interval

A chosen femtosecond process interval; real transitions span many timescales.

Comparing
Time ↔ Time
Relative size
100 femtoseconds is about 100 times the duration of an atomic-scale transition.

How to read the visual

The diagram uses the recorded measurements. Details outside the marked spans do not set the scale.

  • The duration of an atomic-scale transition: The measurement is labelled reference interval. Check the source notes for its basis.

A duration is an interval, not a calendar date.

1 × 10⁻¹³ sseconds
2.7778 × 10⁻¹⁷ hhours
1.1574 × 10⁻¹⁸ daysdays
3.1688 × 10⁻²¹ yearsyears

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