Filming Electron Motion in Action
Abstract
Scanning tunneling microscopes (STM) have allowed for imaging of the structure of matter in three dimensions with atomic-scale resolution, and have found a wide range of applications, including material sciences, chemistry, and biology. This project aims to introduce the time domain to a STM and develop a unique Attosecond Scanning Tunneling Microscope (ASTM) imaging tool. We will base this development on attosecond laser pulses, developed by the PI through his AFOSR YIP award. By generating single isolated electron pulses on a STM, we will record time-resolved snapshots of electron motion and the related dynamics in matter at atomic and attosecond spatiotemporal resolution. The ASTM “electron camera” will enable us to film electron motion in action. As a proof-of-principle experiment, we propose to image photoinduced charge transfer in [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) molecules. The project success will promise a new field of attosecond electron imaging and inspire coherent control and films of chemical interaction mechanisms, molecular and biomolecular structure dynamics, and quantum materials phase transitions at femtosecond (fs) and attosecond timescales.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 20, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502210494
Entities
People
- Mohammed T Hassan
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Arizona