Filming atomic motions in liquids

S. Bratos (1) , Guilhem Gallot (2) , J.-C. Leicknam (1) , Stanislas Pommeret (3) , Rodolphe Vuilleumier (4) , Michael Wulff (5)

1 LPTMC - Laboratoire de Physique Théorique de la Matière Condensée
2 LOB - Laboratoire d'optique et biosciences
3 LSDRM - Laboratoire Structure et Dynamique par Résonance Magnétique (LCF)
4 PASTEUR - Processus d'Activation Sélective par Transfert d'Energie Uni-électronique ou Radiatif (UMR 8640)
5 ESRF - European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

Basic techniques in ultrafast time-resolved optical spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction are described for a broad scientific community. Basic experimental setups are presented, and theories for the interpretation of experimental data are briefly described. The power of these ultrafast techniques is shown with a few selected examples. It is shown in particular how they permit to film atomic motions during a chemical reaction. The strong and weak points of the two complementary techniques are discussed in some detail. A number of basic references are included to help interested readers. Future developments of ultrafast techniques are conjectured at the end of the paper.

Domains: Chemical Sciences

S. Bratos, Guilhem Gallot, J.-C. Leicknam, Stanislas Pommeret, Rodolphe Vuilleumier, et al.. Filming atomic motions in liquids. Acta Chimica Slovenica, 2011, 58 (3), pp.434. ⟨hal-00803782⟩