Correlation Driven Transient Hole Dynamics Resolved in Space and Time in the Isopropanol Molecule

TL;DR

This study combines x-ray pump/probe experiments with theoretical modeling to observe and analyze ultrafast, localized electron hole dynamics in isopropanol, revealing new insights into charge migration phenomena.

Contribution

It provides the first direct observation of transient hole dynamics driven by frustrated Auger-Meitner transitions using site-specific measurements.

Findings

Detected transient hole dynamics localized near oxygen in isopropanol

Verified hole lifetime matches theoretical predictions

First observation of dynamics driven by frustrated Auger-Meitner transitions

Abstract

The possibility of suddenly ionized molecules undergoing extremely fast electron hole dynamics prior to significant structural change was first recognized more than 20 years ago and termed charge migration. The accurate probing of ultrafast electron hole dynamics requires measurements that have both sufficient temporal resolution and can detect the localization of a specific hole within the molecule. We report an investigation of the dynamics of inner valence hole states in isopropanol where we use an x-ray pump/x-ray probe experiment, with site and state-specific probing of a transient hole state localized near the oxygen atom in the molecule, together with an ab initio theoretical treatment. We record the signature of transient hole dynamics and make the first observation of dynamics driven by frustrated Auger-Meitner transitions. We verify that the hole lifetime is consistent with our theoretical prediction. This state-specific measurement paves the way to widespread application for observations of transient hole dynamics localized in space and time in molecules and thus to charge transfer phenomena that are fundamental in chemical and material physics.