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

Mats Simmermacher, Adam Kirrander, Niels E. Henriksen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

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.
Original languageEnglish
JournalPhysical Review A
Volume102
Issue number5
Early online date23 Nov 2020
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 23 Nov 2020

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