Quantum Nature of Electron-Light and Electron-Matter Interactions

Coherent modulation of free electron wavefunctions on ultrafast timescales became accessible in recent years thanks to advances in ultrafast transmission electron microscopy. We demonstrate how such coherent modulation of free electrons can significantly alter their coherent quantum interaction with light and matter. We suggest that such coherently modulated free electrons can become a prominent tool in quantum science and technology, enabling ultrafast gate operations and quantum tomographic measurements with exceptionally high spatial resolutions.