Utilizing relativistic time dilation for time-resolved studies

TL;DR

This paper proposes using relativistic time dilation by accelerating samples to achieve ultra-high time resolution in time-resolved studies, surpassing traditional laser and electron methods.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach leveraging relativistic effects to significantly improve temporal resolution in dynamic studies.

Findings

Potential to reach orders of magnitude higher time resolution

Applicable to chemical and biological samples

Enables exploration of previously inaccessible time domains

Abstract

Time-resolved studies have so far relied on rapidly triggering a photo-induced dynamic in chemical or biological ions or molecules and subsequently probing them with a beam of fast moving photons or electrons that crosses the studied samples in a short period of time. Hence, the time resolution of the signal is mainly set by the pulse duration of the pump and probe pulses. In this paper we propose a different approach to this problem that has the potential to consistently achieve orders of magnitude higher time resolutions than what is possible with laser technology or electron beam compression methods. Our proposed approach relies on accelerating the sample to a high speed to achieve relativistic time dilation. Probing the time-dilated sample would open up previously inaccessible time resolution domains.