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- Gahl, Cornelius, et al.
(författare)
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A femtosecond X-ray/optical cross-correlator
- 2008
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Ingår i: Nature Photonics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1749-4885 .- 1749-4893. ; 2:3, s. 165-169
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- For a fundamental understanding of ultrafast dynamics in chemistry, biology and materials science it has been a long-standing dream to record a molecular movie in which both the atomic trajectories and the chemical states of every atom in matter are followed in real time(1). Free- electron lasers provide this perspective as they deliver brilliant femtosecond X-ray pulses spanning a wide photon energy range, which is necessary to gather element- specific and chemical- stateselective information with femtosecond time resolution. The key challenge lies in synchronizing the free- electron lasers with separate optical lasers. We exploit the peak brilliance of the free- electron laser in Hamburg(2,3) ( FLASH) and establish X- raypulseinduced transient changes of the optical reflectivity in GaAs as a powerful tool for X- ray/ optical cross- correlation. This constitutes a breakthrough in the path towards recording a molecular movie and - equally importantly - opens up the field of femtosecond X- ray- induced dynamics, only accessible with high- brilliance X- ray free- electron lasers.
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