Structure determination of molecules in an alignment laser field by femtosecond photoelectron diffraction using an X-ray free-electron laser

• DOI: 10.1038/srep38654
• Publication Date: 2016-12-09T10:28:31Z
• Authors: Shinichirou Minemoto; Takahiro Teramoto; Hiroshi Akagi; Takashi Fujikawa; Takuya Majima; Kyo Nakajima; Kaori Niki; Shigeki Owada; Hirofumi Sakai; Tadashi Togashi; Kensuke Tono; Shota Tsuru; Ken Wada; Makina Yabashi; Shintaro Yoshida; Akira Yagishita
• Keywords: 0103 physical sciences; 01 natural sciences; Article

Abstract We have successfully determined the internuclear distance of I 2 molecules in an alignment laser field by applying our molecular structure determination methodology to p X-ray photoelectron diffraction profile observed with femtosecond free electron pulses. Using this methodology, we found that sample Nd:YAG 6 × 10 11 W/cm is elongated from 0.18 0.30 Å “in average” relatively equilibrium 2.666 Å. Thus, present experiment constitutes a critical step towards goal imaging chemical reactions and opens new direction for study ultrafast reaction gas phase.