Dynamics of photo-activated Coulomb complexes

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple, scalable model for understanding multi-electron dynamics in Coulomb complexes activated by intense, high-frequency light, crucial for assessing radiation damage and imaging single molecules.

Contribution

It introduces a novel, scalable model for photo-activation dynamics in Coulomb complexes, aiding the study of electron migration and interaction under intense light.

Findings

Model captures key scaling relations of electron dynamics

Provides insights into radiation damage mechanisms

Facilitates understanding of multi-electron processes

Abstract

Intense light with frequencies above typical atomic or molecular ionization potentials as provided by free-electron lasers couples many photons into extended targets such as clusters and biomolecules. This implies, in contrast to traditional multi-photon ionization, multiple single-photon absorption. Thereby, many electrons are removed from their bound states and either released or trapped if the target charge has become sufficiently large. We develop a simple model for this photo activation to study electron migration and interaction. It satisfies scaling relations which help to relate quite different scenarios. To understand this type of multi-electron dynamics on very short time scales is vital for assessing the radiation damage inflicted by that type of radiation and to pave the way for coherent diffraction imaging of single molecules.