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Attosecond spectroscopy of size-resolved water clusters
Xiaochun Gong1,2, Saijoscha Heck1, Denis Jelovina1
1Laboratorium für Physikalische Chemie, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Nature
|July 12, 2022
Summary
Studying electron dynamics in water is crucial. New attosecond spectroscopy reveals how electron hole delocalization, influenced by water cluster size, affects photoionization time delays.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Attosecond Science
- Molecular Spectroscopy
Background:
- Electron dynamics in water are fundamental to many processes.
- Real-time studies of these dynamics present significant challenges.
- Understanding electron behavior at the molecular level is key.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate attosecond electron dynamics in water clusters.
- To understand the influence of molecular additions on photoionization time delays.
- To establish a molecular-level understanding of electron-hole delocalization.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of attosecond size-resolved cluster spectroscopy.
- Measurement of photoionization time delays in water clusters of varying sizes.
- Analysis of the relationship between cluster size, electron-hole extension, and time delays.
Main Results:
- Photoionization time delays increase with cluster size up to four to five molecules.
- Delays show minimal change in larger water clusters.
- Measured delays correlate with the spatial extension of the electron hole, which localizes with increasing disorder.
Conclusions:
- Photoionization delays are sensitive to electron-hole delocalization.
- A direct link exists between electronic structure and attosecond photoionization dynamics.
- New insights into electron-hole delocalization and its dynamics in water are provided.
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