Visualizing the strong field-induced molecular breakup of C60 via x-ray diffraction
Kirsten Schnorr1,2, Sven Augustin1,2,3, Ulf Saalmann4
1Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland.
Science Advances
|November 21, 2025
Summary
Researchers used X-ray diffraction to observe real-time structural changes in molecules interacting with intense laser fields. They found a transition from stable molecules to Coulomb explosion as laser intensity increased.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Molecular Dynamics
- Ultrafast Spectroscopy
Background:
- Laser-driven dynamics in polyatomic molecules present a complex many-body problem.
- Understanding intense light-matter interactions is key to controlling intramolecular quantum dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate real-time structural dynamics and fragmentation of molecules under intense near-infrared laser fields.
- To explore the transition between molecular stability and fragmentation as a function of laser intensity.
Main Methods:
- Time-resolved X-ray diffraction imaging of molecules interacting with intense laser fields.
- Tuning excitation pulse intensity to probe different interaction regimes.
Main Results:
- Direct observation of molecular structural changes and fragmentation in real-time.
- Identification of a transition from stable, excited molecules in weak fields to Coulomb explosion in high fields.
- Observation of significant molecular expansion (up to 50%) within 140 fs in the transition region, preceding major fragmentation.
Conclusions:
- X-ray diffractive imaging is effective for retrieving time-resolved structural information of large molecules under intense laser fields.
- Laser-driven fragmentation is a foundational step toward observing laser-field-modified molecular processes at increasing intensities.
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