femtosecond
noun
a unit of time equal to one quadrillionth (10-15) of a second. Abbreviation: fs.
femtoseconds
-
pluralof femtosecond.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A femtosecond is one quadrillionth of a second -- one second holds about eight times more femtoseconds than all the hours that have passed since the universe began.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 6, 2026
In laboratory experiments tracking events lasting just 18 femtoseconds -- less than 20 quadrillionths of a second -- researchers at the University of Cambridge observed electric charge separating during a single molecular vibration.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 6, 2026
Ultra-short pulse laser sources, with pulse widths from picoseconds to femtoseconds, enable precise processing at scales ranging from microns to tens of microns.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 27, 2024
"Within femtoseconds, the laser pulse excites the electrons in the material. Several picoseconds later, the excited electrons transfer their energy to the atomic nuclei."
From Science Daily ● Dec. 7, 2023
A single petawatt laser pulse contains about 1,000 times the installed electrical power in the U.S. but lasts only 150 femtoseconds, less than a billionth as long as a lightning discharge.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 27, 2023
