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Coherent diffractive imaging of single helium nanodroplets with a high harmonic generation source
Daniela Rupp1, Nils Monserud2, Bruno Langbehn3
1Institut für Optik und Atomare Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstraße 36, 10623, Berlin, Germany. daniela.rupp@physik.tu-berlin.de.
Nature Communications
|September 10, 2017
Summary
Researchers achieved single-shot imaging of superfluid helium nanodroplets using a compact laser source. This breakthrough enables lab-based nanoscopy, revealing droplet shapes previously unseen.
Area of Science:
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Nanotechnology
- Optics and Photonics
Background:
- Coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) enables in situ analysis of nanoparticles.
- Previous single-shot CDI was limited to large-scale extreme ultraviolet (XUV) and X-ray free-electron laser facilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate single-shot CDI of isolated helium nanodroplets using a lab-based XUV source.
- To overcome the limitations of large-scale facilities for nanoparticle imaging.
Main Methods:
- Utilized femtosecond-laser-driven high harmonic generation to produce XUV pulses.
- Performed single-shot diffraction imaging of individual superfluid helium nanodroplets.
- Obtained bright wide-angle scattering patterns for analysis.
Main Results:
- Successfully imaged isolated helium nanodroplets with single XUV pulses.
- Resolved previously unobserved prolate shapes of superfluid helium droplets.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of lab-based single-shot gas-phase nanoscopy.
Conclusions:
- Lab-based XUV sources can achieve single-shot diffraction imaging of nanoparticles.
- This technique opens new avenues for ultrafast coherent diffractive imaging.
- Future work can involve multicolor fields and attosecond pulses for advanced imaging.
