Time Resolved Soft X Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Of Molecules In The Gas And Liquid Phases

This work studies the relaxation dynamics of molecules in both the gas and liquid phases after strong field ionization, using transient absorption in the soft X-rays. In particular, the thesis presents the first realization of time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the spectral water window with a laser-based HHG source. These remarkable experiments were not only performed for isolated molecules, but also in liquids, for which the spectral coverage of the K-edges of C, N, and O are of primary importance for investigating biological molecules. The technique relies on the generation of high-order harmonics to further probe the electronic structure of molecules. Using the atomic selectivity of high energies and the temporal coherence of laser technology, we demonstrate the observation of the first stages of chemical transformation of matter in the gas and liquid phases.

Photochemistry is an important part of both chemistry and biology and is of great practical significance for the development of sustainable sources of energy. The mechanisms of photochemistry are far from trivial and far from understood. There are limits to how well theory can describe the processes and how well experiments can resolve them. This book aims to provide an overview of state-of-the-art methods for both theoretical development and experimental techniques, with a focus on ultrafast molecular processes and electronic excitation of organic molecules. These fields are active and progress is being made, carried by the increasing speed of computation and the development of new light sources, most notably X-ray sources at large facilities. Alongside these two layers of theoretical development and experimental techniques is a third layer—model building. In this layer, model building tries to find similarities in seemingly unrelated experimental results and deepen our general knowledge of photoinduced processes. Often, progress is made not by cutting-edge techniques but rather by using well-established techniques with a great variety of molecules—this approach promises less glory but is just as important as the first two layers. Examples mentioned in the text are the Woodward–Hoffman rules and the dynamophore concept. All three layers are crucial to push our knowledge further and, eventually, to use it for developing new and more advanced optical devices.

During the last two decades, remarkable and often spectacular progress has been made in the methodological and instrumental aspects of x–ray absorption and emission spectroscopy. This progress includes considerable technological improvements in the design and production of detectors especially with the development and expansion of large-scale synchrotron reactors All this has resulted in improved analytical performance and new applications, as well as in the perspective of a dramatic enhancement in the potential of x–ray based analysis techniques for the near future. This comprehensive two-volume treatise features articles that explain the phenomena and describe examples of X–ray absorption and emission applications in several fields, including chemistry, biochemistry, catalysis, amorphous and liquid systems, synchrotron radiation, and surface phenomena. Contributors explain the underlying theory, how to set up X–ray absorption experiments, and how to analyze the details of the resulting spectra. X-Ray Absorption and X-ray Emission Spectroscopy: Theory and Applications: Combines the theory, instrumentation and applications of x-ray absorption and emission spectroscopies which offer unique diagnostics to study almost any object in the Universe. Is the go-to reference book in the subject for all researchers across multi-disciplines since intense beams from modern sources have revolutionized x-ray science in recent years Is relevant to students, postdocurates and researchers working on x-rays and related synchrotron sources and applications in materials, physics, medicine, environment/geology, and biomedical materials

Hardly any other discovery of the nineteenth century did have such an impact on science and technology as Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen’s seminal find of the X-rays. X-ray tubes soon made their way as excellent instruments for numerous applications in medicine, biology, materials science and testing, chemistry and public security. Developing new radiation sources with higher brilliance and much extended spectral range resulted in stunning developments like the electron synchrotron and electron storage ring and the freeelectron laser. This handbook highlights these developments in fifty chapters. The reader is given not only an inside view of exciting science areas but also of design concepts for the most advanced light sources. The theory of synchrotron radiation and of the freeelectron laser, design examples and the technology basis are presented. The handbook presents advanced concepts like seeding and harmonic generation, the booming field of Terahertz radiation sources and upcoming brilliant light sources driven by laser-plasma accelerators. The applications of the most advanced light sources and the advent of nanobeams and fully coherent x-rays allow experiments from which scientists in the past could not even dream. Examples are the diffraction with nanometer resolution, imaging with a full 3D reconstruction of the object from a diffraction pattern, measuring the disorder in liquids with high spatial and temporal resolution. The 20th century was dedicated to the development and improvement of synchrotron light sources with an ever ongoing increase of brilliance. With ultrahigh brilliance sources, the 21st century will be the century of x-ray lasers and their applications. Thus, we are already close to the dream of condensed matter and biophysics: imaging single (macro)molecules and measuring their dynamics on the femtosecond timescale to produce movies with atomic resolution.

As a bridge between electronics and photonics, terahertz science and technology has made tremendous progress in the past decades. While terahertz wave generation from gas, solid and plasma with femtosecond laser excitation has been widely used, terahertz liquid photonics is a newly emerging topic in recent years. This book includes the most recent experimental results, theoretical analysis, and simulated calculations on terahertz emission and detection from liquid materials under ultrashort-pulse laser excitation, providing readers a comprehensive understanding of current developments in terahertz liquid photonics. By comparing with traditional sources, distinctive properties of terahertz wave generation from liquids are discussed in detail, which provides a new perspective in exploring laser-matter interactions.

This text book gives a comprehensive account of magnetism, one of the oldest yet most vibrant fields of physics. It spans the historical development, the physical foundations and the continuing research underlying the subject. The book covers both the classical and quantum mechanical aspects of magnetism and novel experimental techniques. Perhaps uniquely, it discusses spin transport and magnetization dynamics phenomena associated with atomically and spin engineered nano-structures against the backdrop of spintronics and magnetic storage and memory applications. The book is for students, and serves as a reference for scientists in academia and research laboratories.

This is the first ever comprehensive treatment of NEXAFS spectroscopy. It is suitable for novice researchers as an introduction to the field, while experts will welcome the detailed description of state-of-the-art instrumentation and analysis techniques, along with the latest experimental and theoretical results.