Time-resolved x-ray scattering from impulsively aligned or oriented molecules

Mats Simmermacher, Adam Kirrander, and Niels E. Henriksen
Phys. Rev. A 102, 052825 – Published 23 November 2020

Abstract

Impulsive laser excitation of molecules can create rotational wave packets that lead to transient alignment or orientation. We present a theoretical analysis of the signatures of post-pulse field-free time-dependent alignment and orientation of diatomic molecules in time-resolved nonresonant x-ray scattering. This shows that alignment and its time dependence due to the interference terms of the rotational wave packet are visible in the x-ray scattering signal whereas signatures of orientation and its time dependence are absent. To that end, we discuss the time dependence of the coherent rotational motion associated with electronically resonant one-photon excitations. We illustrate our findings with calculated two-dimensional scattering signals for the sodium fluoride molecule (NaF) in the gas phase.

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  • Received 4 September 2020
  • Accepted 5 November 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.102.052825

©2020 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

Mats Simmermacher1,*, Adam Kirrander1, and Niels E. Henriksen2,†

  • 1EaStCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, EH9 3FJ Edinburgh, United Kingdom
  • 2Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

  • *m.simmermacher@ed.ac.uk
  • neh@kemi.dtu.dk

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Issue

Vol. 102, Iss. 5 — November 2020

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