Sub-phonon-period compression of electron pulses for atomic diffraction

A. Gliserin, M. Walbran, F. Krausz and P. Baum ()
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A. Gliserin: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
M. Walbran: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
F. Krausz: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
P. Baum: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Visualizing the rearrangement of atoms in a wide range of molecular and condensed-matter systems requires resolving picometre displacements on a 10-fs timescale, which is achievable using pump–probe diffraction, given short enough pulses. Here we demonstrate the compression of single-electron pulses with a de Broglie wavelength of 0.08 ångström to a full-width at half-maximum duration of 28 fs or equivalently 12-fs root-mean square, substantially shorter than most phonon periods and molecular normal modes. Atomic resolution diffraction from a complex organic molecule is obtained with good signal-to-noise ratio within a data acquisition period of minutes. The electron-laser timing is found to be stable within 5 fs (s.d.) over several hours, allowing pump–probe diffraction at repetitive excitation. These measurements show the feasibility of laser-pump/electron-probe scans that can resolve the fastest atomic motions relevant in reversible condensed-matter transformations and organic chemistry.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9723

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