Observation of the molecular response to light upon photoexcitation

Haiwang Yong, Nikola Zotev, Jennifer M. Ruddock, Brian Stankus, Mats Simmermacher, Andrés Moreno Carrascosa, Wenpeng Du, Nathan Goff, Yu Chang, Darren Bellshaw, Mengning Liang, Sergio Carbajo, Jason E. Koglin, Joseph S. Robinson, Sébastien Boutet, Michael P. Minitti, Adam Kirrander () and Peter M. Weber ()
Additional contact information
Haiwang Yong: Brown University
Nikola Zotev: University of Edinburgh
Jennifer M. Ruddock: Brown University
Brian Stankus: Brown University
Mats Simmermacher: University of Edinburgh
Andrés Moreno Carrascosa: University of Edinburgh
Wenpeng Du: Brown University
Nathan Goff: Brown University
Yu Chang: Brown University
Darren Bellshaw: University of Edinburgh
Mengning Liang: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Sergio Carbajo: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Jason E. Koglin: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Joseph S. Robinson: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Sébastien Boutet: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Michael P. Minitti: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Adam Kirrander: University of Edinburgh
Peter M. Weber: Brown University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract When a molecule interacts with light, its electrons can absorb energy from the electromagnetic field by rapidly rearranging their positions. This constitutes the first step of photochemical and photophysical processes that include primary events in human vision and photosynthesis. Here, we report the direct measurement of the initial redistribution of electron density when the molecule 1,3-cyclohexadiene (CHD) is optically excited. Our experiments exploit the intense, ultrashort hard x-ray pulses of the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) to map the change in electron density using ultrafast x-ray scattering. The nature of the excited electronic state is identified with excellent spatial resolution and in good agreement with theoretical predictions. The excited state electron density distributions are thus amenable to direct experimental observation.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15680-4

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