Direct Measurement of Correlation Driven Electron Dynamics in an Amino Acid

Lead Research Organisation: University College London
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

All material systems are made up of positively charged nuclei, and negatively charged electrons. The way in which the arrangement of electrons and nuclei respond to external stimuli, such as photons from light, determines their physical and chemical properties. The electrons in materials do not behave as independent particles, and their position and momenta are highly correlated due in part to their mutual Coulombic repulsion. An approach to probing and understanding the correlated behaviour of electrons is to remove one of the electrons and then observe how the remaining electrons adjust in response to the sudden removal of an electron. That is precisely the approach we will follow here; we will employ a short X-ray pulse from a free-electron laser to remove an electron from the Glycine molecule leaving a "hole" in the molecule, and then, with a second time-delayed short X-ray pulse we will probe the evolution of that hole as the electrons adjust. The second "probe" pulse will excite an inner core electron to the energy where the hole was created. As the other electrons readjust, the accessibility of that hole to the core electron will vary. As such, the probability of re-populating the hole with the core electron will evolve in time, providing us with a way to view the electron motion in the molecule. This experiment requires two synchronised laser pulses with duration of 5 fs and with a photon energy of 280 eV. The only place in the world that light pulses with these characteristics are available is at the Linear Coherent Light Source (LCLS) facility at Stanfrod, US.

Planned Impact

The successful implementation of the exposed experiment at LCLS will provide a new and general approach to measuring the effects of electron correlation in molecular systems. As such, this method will provide new insights on the structure of matter at the atomic level and provide stringent tests of our current methods for calculating molecular structure. As the LCLS Proposal Panel point out "This is a very challenging experiment but has the potential of opening a new frontier in ultrafast molecular dynamics... the panel feels this is an important experiment that has to be done to pave the way towards this frontier area of AMO science". These experiments will ultimately benefit our understanding of how material properties relate to underlying structure and dynamics, and so will have impact beyond the molecular physics community, being relevant to material and biological sciences, for example.

Publications

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Sanchez-Gonzalez A (2015) Auger electron and photoabsorption spectra of glycine in the vicinity of the oxygen K-edge measured with an X-FEL in Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics

 
Description We made the first measurement of the near oxygen K-edge Auger spectrum of the glycine molecule. Our work employed an X-ray free electron laser as the photon source operated with input photon energies tunable between 527 and 547 eV. Complete electron spectra were recorded at each photon energy in the tuning range, revealing resonant and non-resonant Auger structures. Finally, ab initio theoretical predictions were compared with the measured above edge
Auger spectrum allowing an assignment of active Auger decay channels.
Exploitation Route In a future experiment we will make use of the two pulse operation of LCLS to fully meet the original objectives.
Sectors Chemicals

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

URL http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1474737/
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation Charles University
Department School of Medicine Charles Prague
Country Czech Republic 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation European XFEL
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation Heidelberg University
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation Imperial College London
Department Department of Chemistry
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation Imperial College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation Lund University
Country Sweden 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation SOLEIL Synchrotron
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation Stanford University
Department SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Country United States 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation Stanford University
Department SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Country United States 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation Stanford University
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation Tohoku University
Country Japan 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation University of Oxford
Department Department of Chemistry
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation University of Texas
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation Uppsala University
Country Sweden 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015
 
Description LCLS collaboration January 2015 
Organisation Western Michigan University
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication.
Collaborator Contribution This collaboration was established in order to conduct pump-probe studies on the glycine molecules using the LCLS free electron laser. I was a member of the team that conducted the experiments, analyzed the results, and prepared the manuscript for publication. All members of the team contributed to these components.
Impact http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/48/23/234004
Start Year 2015