Imaging the Renner-Teller Effect using Laser-Induced Electron Diffraction

Author

Kasra Amini
Michele Sclafani
Tobias Steinle
Anh-Thu Le, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
For full list of authors, see publisher's website.

Abstract

Structural information on electronically excited neutral molecules can be indirectly retrieved, largely through pump—probe and rotational spectroscopy measurements with the aid of calculations. Here, we demonstrate the direct structural retrieval of neutral carbonyl disulfide (CS₂) in the B̃¹B₂ excited electronic state using laser-induced electron diffraction (LIED). We unambiguously identify the ultrafast symmetric stretching and bending of the field-dressed neutral CS₂ molecule with combined picometer and attosecond resolution using intrapulse pump-probe excitation and measurement. We invoke the Renner-Teller effect to populate the B̃¹B₂ excited state in neutral CS₂, leading to bending and stretching of the molecule. Our results demonstrate the sensitivity of LIED in retrieving the geometric structure of CS₂, which is known to appear as a two-center scatterer.

Recommended Citation

K. Amini et al., "Imaging the Renner-Teller Effect using Laser-Induced Electron Diffraction," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 116, no. 17, pp. 8173 - 8177, National Academy of Sciences, Apr 2019.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1817465116

Department(s)

Physics

Keywords and Phrases

Attosecond wave packet; Electron diffraction; Laser-induced electron diffraction; Nonadiabatic dynamics; Structural dynamics

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0027-8424; 1091-6490

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2019 The Authors, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Apr 2019