Meckel M, Comtois D, Zeidler D, Staudte A, Pavicic D, Bandulet HC, Pépin H, Kieffer JC, Dörner R, Villeneuve DM, Corkum PB. Laser-induced electron tunneling and diffraction.
Science 2008;
320:1478-82. [PMID:
18556555 DOI:
10.1126/science.1157980]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Molecular structure is usually determined by measuring the diffraction pattern the molecule impresses on x-rays or electrons. We used a laser field to extract electrons from the molecule itself, accelerate them, and in some cases force them to recollide with and diffract from the parent ion, all within a fraction of a laser period. Here, we show that the momentum distribution of the extracted electron carries the fingerprint of the highest occupied molecular orbital, whereas the elastically scattered electrons reveal the position of the nuclear components of the molecule. Thus, in one comprehensive technology, the photoelectrons give detailed information about the electronic orbital and the position of the nuclei.
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