Optically induced anisotropy in time-resolved scattering: Imaging molecular scale structure and dynamics in disordered media with experiment and theory

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for interpreting time-resolved scattering experiments that use optical anisotropy to image molecular structure and dynamics in disordered media at the femtosecond scale.

Contribution

It introduces a new rigorous theoretical approach to analyze optically induced anisotropy in time-resolved scattering, enhancing understanding of molecular orientation and motion.

Findings

Framework accurately predicts experimental results

Demonstrates imaging of molecular orientation in disordered media

Validates predictions with experiments on chloroform

Abstract

Time-resolved scattering experiments enable imaging of materials at the molecular scale with femtosecond time resolution. However, in disordered media they provide access to just one radial dimension thus limiting the study of orientational structure and dynamics. Here we introduce a rigorous and practical theoretical framework for predicting and interpreting experiments combining optically induced anisotropy and time-resolved scattering. Using impulsive nuclear Raman and ultrafast X-ray scattering experiments of chloroform and simulations, we demonstrate that this framework can accurately predict and elucidate both the spatial and temporal features of these experiments.