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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 31, 2026

$Measurements of Long-range Electronic Correlations During Femtosecond Diffraction Experiments Performed on Nanocrystals of Buckminsterfullerene$

Measurements of Long-range Electronic Correlations During Femtosecond Diffraction Experiments Performed on Nanocrystals of Buckminsterfullerene

Published on: August 22, 2017

Sub-phonon-period compression of electron pulses for atomic diffraction.

A Gliserin^1,2, M Walbran^1,2, F Krausz^1,2

¹Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Am Coulombwall 1, 85748 Garching, Germany.

Nature Communications

|October 28, 2015

Summary

Researchers compressed single-electron pulses to 28 fs, enabling atomic-resolution diffraction. This breakthrough allows visualization of ultrafast atomic motions in molecular and condensed-matter systems.

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Last Updated: Mar 31, 2026

$Measurements of Long-range Electronic Correlations During Femtosecond Diffraction Experiments Performed on Nanocrystals of Buckminsterfullerene$

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$Synthesis and Microdiffraction at Extreme Pressures and Temperatures$

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Published on: October 7, 2013

Area of Science:

Physics
Chemistry
Materials Science

Background:

Observing atomic rearrangements in molecular and condensed-matter systems demands high temporal and spatial resolution.
Picometre displacement visualization on a 10-femtosecond (fs) timescale is crucial for understanding dynamic processes.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate the compression of single-electron pulses for ultrafast electron diffraction.
To achieve atomic resolution imaging of atomic motions in complex molecules.

Main Methods:

Compression of single-electron pulses to a 28-fs full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) duration.
Utilizing a de Broglie wavelength of 0.08 ångström for electron pulses.
Employing laser-pump/electron-probe diffraction techniques.

Main Results:

Achieved electron pulse durations of 28 fs (12 fs root-mean square), shorter than typical phonon periods.
Obtained atomic resolution diffraction from a complex organic molecule with a good signal-to-noise ratio.
Demonstrated stable electron-laser timing within 5 fs (standard deviation) over several hours.

Conclusions:

The developed method enables visualization of atomic motions relevant to reversible condensed-matter transformations.
Laser-pump/electron-probe scans can resolve the fastest atomic motions in organic chemistry and materials science.
This technique opens new avenues for studying ultrafast dynamics in various systems.