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.
- Received 11 June 2012
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.133202
© 2012 American Physical Society
Focus
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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