Capture First-Ever images of Atoms Moving In a Molecule

Vibration of two atoms in a molecule was recorded real time image using new ultrafast camera by researchers in Columbus-Ohio.

As mentioned in issue of the journal Nature, is the usage of energy of molecule’s own electron as a kind of “flash bulb” to illuminate the molecular motion.

The team used ultrafast laser pulses to knock one electron out of its natural orbit in a molecule. The electron then fell back toward the molecule scattered off of it, analogous to the way a flash of light scatters around an object, or a water ripple scatters in a pond.

“Through these experiment, we realized that we can control the quantum trajectory of the electron when it comes back to the molecule, by adjusting the laser that launches it, “ said Lois Dimauro, who is a professor of physic at Ohio State. “The next step will be to see if we can steer the electron in just the right way to actually control a chemical reaction.”

A technique called laser induced electron diffraction (LIED) is commonly used surface to study solid materials. Here, the researchers used it to study the movement of atoms in a single molecule.

The molecule they choose to study were simple ones: N2, O2 are common atmospheric gases, and scientist already know every detail of their structure, so these two very basic molecules made a good test for the LIED method.

In each case, the researchers hit the molecule with laser light pulses of 50 fem to seconds, or quadrillionths of a second. They were able to knock a single electron out of the outer shell of the molecule and detect the scattered signal of the electron as it re-collided with the molecule.

The key, explained Blaga (Postdoctoral researcher Ohio State), is that during the brief span of time between when the electron is knocked out of the molecule and when it re-collides, the atoms in molecules have moved. The LIED method can capture this movement, “similar to making a movie of the quantum world”.

Ultimately, this research is to really understand how chemical reaction  take place. And the greater impact to science will come when can study reactions between more complex molecules.