1. Pushing the limits of ultrafast diffraction: Imaging quantum coherences in isolated molecules.
- Author
-
Tang, Zilong, Jarupula, Ramesh, and Yong, Haiwang
- Subjects
Natural sciences ,Optics ,Physics - Abstract
Quantum coherence governs the outcome and efficiency of photochemical reactions and ultrafast molecular dynamics. Recent ultrafast gas-phase X-ray scattering and electron diffraction have enabled the observation of femtosecond nuclear dynamics driven by vibrational coherence. However, probing attosecond electron dynamics and coupled electron-nuclear dynamics remains challenging. This article discusses advances in ultrafast X-ray scattering and electron diffraction, highlighting their potential to resolve attosecond charge migration and vibronic coupling at conical intersections. Novel techniques, such as X-ray scattering with orbital angular momentum beams and combined X-ray and electron diffraction, promise to selectively probe coherence contributions and visualize charge migration in real-space. These emerging methods could further our understanding of coherence effects in chemical reactions.
- Published
- 2024