The World’s Fastest Measurements of Molecular Vibrations

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Raw data from measurements of UV rays emitted by hydrogen and deuterium molecules under the influence of a strong laser pulse. Higher pixel numbers indicate lower UV wavelengths. The stronger D2-signal intensity indicates that the vibrations are slow ...
Raw data from measurements of UV rays, emitted by hydrogen and deuterium molecules under the influence of a strong laser pulse. Higher pixel numbers indicate lower UV wavelengths. The stronger D2-signal intensity indicates that the vibrations are slower than those of H2. Image: Imperial College London

When atoms or molecules are subject to a short, intense laser pulse, they emit high-frequency ultraviolet radiation. If you compare the spectra of isotopes that are of different masses but otherwise similar, you can use this measured radiation to determine the motion of the atoms. The research team used this method -with single, extremely short laser pulses - to make the fastest measurements of how a molecule changes over time.


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