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Imaging an aligned polyatomic molecule with laser-induced electron diffraction

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms8262· OSTI ID:1623980
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [2];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [5];  [3];  [7]
  1. Inst. de Ciencies Fotoniques (ICFO), Barcelona (Spain); DOE/OSTI
  2. Inst. de Ciencies Fotoniques (ICFO), Barcelona (Spain)
  3. Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States)
  4. Univ. Kassel (Germany)
  5. Max-Planck-Inst. für Kernphysik, Heidelberg (Germany)
  6. Max-Planck-Inst. für Kernphysik, Heidelberg (Germany); Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig (Germany)
  7. Inst. de Ciencies Fotoniques (ICFO), Barcelona (Spain); Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States); Inst. Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona (Spain)
Laser-induced electron diffraction is an evolving tabletop method that aims to image ultrafast structural changes in gas-phase polyatomic molecules with sub-Ångstro¨m spatial and femtosecond temporal resolutions. Here we demonstrate the retrieval of multiple bond lengths from a polyatomic molecule by simultaneously measuring the C–C and C–H bond lengths in aligned acetylene. Our approach takes the method beyond the hitherto achieved imaging of simple diatomic molecules and is based on the combination of a 160 kHz mid-infrared few-cycle laser source with full three-dimensional electron–ion coincidence detection. Our technique provides an accessible and robust route towards imaging ultrafast processes in complex gas-phase molecules with atto- to femto-second temporal resolution.
Research Organization:
Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Catalan Agencia de Gestio´ d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR); European Commission; Fundació Cellex Barcelona; Laserlab-Europe; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-86ER13491
OSTI ID:
1623980
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 6; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Figures / Tables (4)