Can molecules take pictures of themselves? That is more or less the principle underlying laser-induced electron diffraction (LIED): A laser field strips an electron from a molecule and then sends it back to report on the structure of the remaining ion. Wolter et al. applied this technique to acetylene to track the
ICFO researchers show that attosecond rescattering wavepackets retrieve molecular structure irrespective of the peculiar symmetry of a molecule’s wavefunction.Knowing the atomic structure of atoms, molecules and solids is central to understanding and manipulating their function. Laser induced electron diffraction uses a molecule’s own valence electrons to image its structure. A
ICFO researchers have demonstrated attosecond temporal resolution in combination with atomic selectivity. Attosecond light pulses in the extreme ultraviolet have drawn a great deal of attention due to their ability to interrogate electronic dynamics in real time. Nevertheless, to follow charge dynamics and excitations in materials, element selectivity is a prerequisite,
First 7 micron ultrafast, CEP stable OPCPA published in Optica. The system is completely fiber pumped and yields a peak power of 1.1 GW and, if focused to the diffraction limit, would reach a peak intensity of 0.7 GW/cm2. Optica 3, 147 (2016)..
