Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 424-427 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Science |
| Volume | 312 |
| Issue number | 5772 |
| Publication status | Published - 21 Apr 2006 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
We demonstrate a technique that uses high-order harmonic generation in molecules to probe nuclear dynamics and structural rearrangement on a subfemtosecond time scale. The chirped nature of the electron wavepacket produced by laser ionization in a strong field gives rise to a similar chirp in the photons emitted upon electron-ion recombination. Use of this chirp in the emitted light allows information about nuclear dynamics to be gained with 100-attosecond temporal resolution, from excitation by an 8-femtosecond pulse, in a single laser shot. Measurements on molecular hydrogen and deuterium agreed well with calculations of ultrafast nuclear dynamics in the H2 + molecule, confirming the validity of the method. We then measured harmonic spectra from CH4 and CD4 to demonstrate a few-femtosecond time scale for the onset of proton rearrangement in methane upon ionization.
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In: Science, Vol. 312, No. 5772, 21.04.2006, p. 424-427.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Probing proton dynamics in molecules on an attosecond time scale
AU - Baker, Sarah
AU - Robinson, Joseph S.
AU - Haworth, C. A.
AU - Teng, H.
AU - Smith, R. A.
AU - Chirilǎ, Ciprian C.
AU - Lein, Manfred
AU - Tisch, J. W.G.
AU - Marangos, J. P.
N1 - Copyright: Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2006/4/21
Y1 - 2006/4/21
N2 - We demonstrate a technique that uses high-order harmonic generation in molecules to probe nuclear dynamics and structural rearrangement on a subfemtosecond time scale. The chirped nature of the electron wavepacket produced by laser ionization in a strong field gives rise to a similar chirp in the photons emitted upon electron-ion recombination. Use of this chirp in the emitted light allows information about nuclear dynamics to be gained with 100-attosecond temporal resolution, from excitation by an 8-femtosecond pulse, in a single laser shot. Measurements on molecular hydrogen and deuterium agreed well with calculations of ultrafast nuclear dynamics in the H2 + molecule, confirming the validity of the method. We then measured harmonic spectra from CH4 and CD4 to demonstrate a few-femtosecond time scale for the onset of proton rearrangement in methane upon ionization.
AB - We demonstrate a technique that uses high-order harmonic generation in molecules to probe nuclear dynamics and structural rearrangement on a subfemtosecond time scale. The chirped nature of the electron wavepacket produced by laser ionization in a strong field gives rise to a similar chirp in the photons emitted upon electron-ion recombination. Use of this chirp in the emitted light allows information about nuclear dynamics to be gained with 100-attosecond temporal resolution, from excitation by an 8-femtosecond pulse, in a single laser shot. Measurements on molecular hydrogen and deuterium agreed well with calculations of ultrafast nuclear dynamics in the H2 + molecule, confirming the validity of the method. We then measured harmonic spectra from CH4 and CD4 to demonstrate a few-femtosecond time scale for the onset of proton rearrangement in methane upon ionization.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33646012597&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1126/science.1123904
DO - 10.1126/science.1123904
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33646012597
VL - 312
SP - 424
EP - 427
JO - Science
JF - Science
SN - 0036-8075
IS - 5772
ER -