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Imaging of Isolated Molecules with Ultrafast Electron Pulses

Christopher J. Hensley, Jie Yang, and Martin Centurion
Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 133202 – Published 28 September 2012
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Abstract

Imaging isolated molecules in three dimensions with atomic resolution is important for elucidating complex molecular structures and intermediate states in molecular dynamics. This goal has so far remained elusive due to the random orientation of molecules in the gas phase. We show that three-dimensional structural information can be retrieved from multiple electron diffraction patterns of aligned molecules. The molecules are aligned impulsively with a femtosecond laser pulse and probed with a femtosecond electron pulse two picoseconds later, when the degree of alignment reaches a maximum.

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  • Received 11 June 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.133202

© 2012 American Physical Society

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First Frame from 3D Molecular Movie

Published 28 September 2012

In a step toward 3D movies, researchers have combined short laser pulses with electron diffraction methods to rapidly map the structure of a simple molecule in three dimensions.

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Authors & Affiliations

Christopher J. Hensley, Jie Yang, and Martin Centurion

  • University of Nebraska—Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA

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Issue

Vol. 109, Iss. 13 — 28 September 2012

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