Researchers track movement of a solitary electron amidst a chemical response, a novel first
In a groundbreaking discovery, a team of scientists has successfully captured an image of an individual photon, marking a significant milestone in the field of quantum physics. This feat was achieved at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory's Linac Coherent Light Source, where the researchers also managed to capture a direct image of a single electron during a chemical reaction.
The study, published in the journal Physical Review Letters on August 20, aimed to take pictures of the actual electrons driving the motion during chemical reactions. To accomplish this, the team used ultrafast X-ray flashes to directly image a single electron moving during a chemical reaction.
Ammonia was chosen as the molecule for the experiment due to its light atoms and fewer core electrons, making it easier to observe the valence electrons, which were hidden in previous X-ray studies due to their interaction with core electrons near the atom's nucleus.
The researchers used ultraviolet light to jolt an electron in the ammonia molecule to a higher energy level, triggering a chemical reaction. They then recorded the electron's "cloud" shift using X-ray. X-rays, when passing through an electron's probability cloud, scatter in different directions and can interfere with each other. By measuring this interference pattern, the team reconstructed an image of the electron's orbital.
In quantum physics, electrons exist as probability clouds, with distinct shapes depending on the energy and position of the electron. The study's results were compared to two theoretical models, one that included valence electron motion and one that didn't. The data matched the first model, confirming that they had captured the electron's rearrangement in action.
The researchers hope to adapt the system for use in more complex, 3D environments that better mimic real tissues. This could move the system closer to applications in regenerative medicine, such as growing or repairing tissue on demand.
For decades, scientists have used ultrafast X-ray scattering to image atoms and their chemical reactions. This breakthrough in capturing a single electron during a chemical reaction marks a significant leap forward in the understanding of quantum mechanics and its potential applications.
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