Ultrafast molecular imaging by laser-induced electron diffraction

Journal Article · Sun May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.83.051403· OSTI ID:21546679

Peters, M ^[1]; Nguyen-Dang, T T ^[2]; Cornaggia, C ^[3]; Saugout, S; Charron, E; Keller, A; Atabek, O ^[1]

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1. Universite Paris-Sud, Institut des Sciences Moleculaires d'Orsay (CNRS), F-91405 Orsay (France)
2. Departement de Chimie, Universite Laval, Quebec, Quebec G1K 7P4 (Canada)
3. CEA IRAMIS, SPAM, Saclay, Batiment 522, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette (France)

We address the feasibility of imaging geometric and orbital structures of a polyatomic molecule on an attosecond time scale using the laser-induced electron diffraction (LIED) technique. We present numerical results for the highest molecular orbitals of the CO{sub 2} molecule excited by a near-infrared few-cycle laser pulse. The molecular geometry (bond lengths) is determined within 3% of accuracy from a diffraction pattern which also reflects the nodal properties of the initial molecular orbital. Robustness of the structure determination is discussed with respect to vibrational and rotational motions with a complete interpretation of the laser-induced mechanisms.

• OSTI ID: 21546679
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 83; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ACCURACY
BOND LENGTHS
CALCULATION METHODS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COHERENT SCATTERING
DIFFRACTION
DIMENSIONS
ELECTRON DIFFRACTION
LASERS
LENGTH
MOLECULAR ORBITAL METHOD
MOLECULES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SCATTERING