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Updated: Apr 8, 2026

Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation

Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation

Published on: February 4, 2017

Imaging an aligned polyatomic molecule with laser-induced electron diffraction.

Michael G Pullen¹, Benjamin Wolter¹, Anh-Thu Le²

¹ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, Mediterranean Technology Park, Castelldefels (Barcelona) 08860, Spain.

Nature Communications

|June 25, 2015

Summary

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This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers imaged multiple molecular bonds in acetylene using laser-induced electron diffraction. This advanced technique achieves high spatial and temporal resolution for studying ultrafast structural dynamics in complex molecules.

Area of Science:

Physical Chemistry
Molecular Dynamics
Ultrafast Spectroscopy

Background:

Laser-induced electron diffraction (LIED) is a tabletop technique for imaging molecular structures.
Current LIED methods primarily image simple diatomic molecules.
Achieving sub-Ångström spatial and femtosecond temporal resolution is crucial for observing ultrafast structural changes.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate the retrieval of multiple bond lengths from a polyatomic molecule.
To extend LIED capabilities beyond diatomic molecules to complex gas-phase systems.
To achieve simultaneous measurement of different bond types within a single molecule.

Main Methods:

Utilized a 160 kHz mid-infrared few-cycle laser source.
Employed full three-dimensional electron-ion coincidence detection.

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Measurement of Ultrafast Vibrational Coherences in Polyatomic Radical Cations with Strong-Field Adiabatic Ionization

Measurement of Ultrafast Vibrational Coherences in Polyatomic Radical Cations with Strong-Field Adiabatic Ionization

Published on: August 6, 2018

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Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation

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Photoelectron Imaging of Anions Illustrated by 310 Nm Detachment of F⁻

Published on: July 27, 2018

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Published on: August 6, 2018

Applied laser-induced electron diffraction to aligned acetylene molecules.

Main Results:

Successfully retrieved both C-C and C-H bond lengths in acetylene simultaneously.
Demonstrated the capability to measure multiple bond lengths in a polyatomic molecule.
Extended the application of LIED to complex molecular systems.

Conclusions:

The developed technique enables imaging of ultrafast structural dynamics in polyatomic molecules.
This method offers an accessible and robust route for atto- to femtosecond resolution studies.
The findings pave the way for advanced structural analysis of complex molecular processes.