Work

Attosecond Momentum-Resolved Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering for Imaging Coupled Electron–Hole Dynamics

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Improving our understanding of electron dynamics is essential for advancing energy transfer, optoelectronics, light-harvesting systems, and quantum computing. Recent developments in attosecond X-ray sources provide the fundamental possibility of observing these dynamics with atomic-scale resolution. However, linking a time-resolved signal to dynamics is challenging due to the broad bandwidth of an attosecond probe pulse. This makes exploring the capabilities of different attosecond imaging techniques crucial. Here, we propose attosecond momentum-resolved resonant inelastic X-ray scattering as a prominent technique for tracking ultrafast dynamics. We demonstrate that the scattering signal contains information about the instantaneous distribution of charge density across the scattering atoms. To illustrate this, we consider scattering from an α-sexithiophene molecule, in which coupled electron-hole dynamics are excited.

Source: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.6c00998

Authors: Maksim Radionov, Daria Popova-Gorelova

Institutions: Universität Hamburg, Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg

Language: English

Topic: Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500

Funder: Volkswagen Foundation