Hannover 2010 – scientific programme
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MO: Fachverband Molekülphysik
MO 20: Experimental Techniques I
MO 20.2: Talk
Thursday, March 11, 2010, 11:15–11:30, F 142
Target preparation for diffractive X-ray imaging of gas-phase molecules — •Frank Filsinger1, Jochen Küpper1, Gerard Meijer1, Lotte Holmegaard2, Jochen Maurer2, Jan Thøgersen2, and Henrik Stapelfeldt2 — 1Fritz-Haber-Institut der MPG, Berlin, Germany — 2University of Aarhus, Denmark
In 2009 the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), a novel hard X-ray free-electron laser, became operational. One envisioned application is the diffractive imaging of isolated, non-crystallizable bio-molecules in the gas phase [1]. Because a single X-ray laser pulse will completely destroy the molecule, its diffraction pattern needs to be recorded in a single shot. The (electronic) structure of the molecule must not significantly change on the timescale of the laser pulse (<100 fs) in order to obtain unperturbed diffraction images. In order to benchmark radiation damage and the structure retrieval algorithms, we will perform first studies on small molecules (e. g., diiodobenzene) at LCLS in spring 2010. In order to observe the diffraction image, ensembles of identical molecules must be prepared. We have demonstrated the spatial separation of individual strucutral isomers [2, 3] and very strong laser-alignment and mixed field orientation of such molecules [4]. Here, we will discuss how such targets can be prepared, using quantum-state-selection techniques, and applied for X-ray diffraction experiments.
[1] R. Neutze et al., Nature 406 (2000), 752
[2] F. Filsinger et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, (2008), 133003
[3] F. Filsinger et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 48, (2009), 6900
[3] L. Holmegaard et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, (2009), 023001