High-order harmonic spectroscopy for molecular imaging of polyatomic molecules

• DOI: 10.1039/c4fd00033a
• Publication Date: 2014-05-13T09:32:21Z
• Authors: M. Negro; M. Devetta; D. Faccialá; S. De Silvestri; C. Vozzi; S. Stagira
• Keywords: Polyatomic ion; Molecular spectroscopy; Attosecond; Triatomic molecule

High-order harmonic generation is a powerful and sensitive tool for probing atomic molecular structures, combining in the same measurement an unprecedented attosecond temporal resolution with high spatial resolution, of order angstrom. Imaging outermost orbital by high-order has been limited long time to very simple molecules, like nitrogen. Recently we demonstrated technique that overcame several issues have prevented extension tomography more complex species, showing imaging can be applied triatomic molecule carbon dioxide. Here report on application such nitrous oxide (N2O) acetylene (C2H2). This result represents first step towards fragile compounds, category which includes most fundamental biological molecules.