X-ray induced Coulomb explosion imaging of complex molecules (Conference Presentation)

Rebecca Boll

doi:10.1117/12.2669171

9 June 2023 X-ray induced Coulomb explosion imaging of complex molecules (Conference Presentation)

Rebecca Boll

Proceedings Volume PC12581, X-Ray Free-Electron Lasers: Advances in Source Development and Instrumentation VI; PC125810E (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2669171
Event: SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics, 2023, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

Recording images of individual molecules with ultrashort “exposure times” has been a long-standing dream in molecular physics, chemistry, and biology, because this would allow one to follow the motion of atoms on their inherent timescale. While X-ray and electron diffraction have been successfully used for larger molecules, both are challenging to apply to small gas-phase molecules. We could recently demonstrate that snapshot images of the complete structure of a molecule with eleven atoms, including all hydrogens, can be recorded by Coulomb explosion imaging (CEI) using intense, femtosecond soft X-ray pulses [Nature Physics 18, 423 (2022)]. While it was possible to record up to six-fold ion coincidences, even three-fold ion coincidences can be sufficient to image the full structure of a molecule. The X-ray intensity is high enough to produce extreme charge states (e.g. up to 42+ in xenon atoms), and to Coulomb-explode molecules into individual atoms very quickly, such that the initial molecular structure is well preserved in the recorded momenta of all ions. The intriguingly clear momentum images allow us to identify each atom’s position in the molecule unambiguously. The sensitivity of CEI to the molecular structure at the instant of ionization allows studying processes such as molecular charge-up, the influence of transient molecular resonances, intramolecular charge rearrangement and fragmentation dynamics. The femtosecond pulse duration opens the door to monitoring the temporal evolution of the molecular structure. Furthermore, combining CEI with coincident electron detection provides access to molecular-frame photoelectron diffraction – a powerful tool for accessing molecular dynamics.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Rebecca Boll "X-ray induced Coulomb explosion imaging of complex molecules (Conference Presentation)", Proc. SPIE PC12581, X-Ray Free-Electron Lasers: Advances in Source Development and Instrumentation VI, PC125810E (9 June 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2669171

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KEYWORDS

Molecules

X-rays

Biological imaging

X-ray imaging

Chemical species

Ions

Diffraction

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