PNAS: Ultrafast Images of an Exciton Reveal its Internal Structure

9/16/2008

Peter Abbamonte and collaborators have used x-ray scattering to image the structure of the valence exciton in the LiF.

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The time dependence of the internal structure of the charge-transfer exciton in LiF, created by an idealized point source (represented by the wavy line). Image courtesy APS.
The time dependence of the internal structure of the charge-transfer exciton in LiF, created by an idealized point source (represented by the wavy line). Image courtesy APS.

The time dependence of the internal structure of the charge-transfer exciton in LiF, created by an idealized point source (represented by the wavy line). Image courtesy APS.

MRL Principal Investigator Peter Abbamonte (Physics), along with collaborators at Argonne National Laboratory, have used x-ray scattering to image the structure of the valence exciton in the LiF with attosecond time resolution. Their study suggests a simplified model of tightly-bound excitons that could be useful for modeling organic molecular devices.

The work has been published in the August 26, 2008 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences as well as being highlighted by the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory where the team examined the valence charge-transfer exciton in LiF with causally-inverted inelastic x-ray scattering (IXS) at the ChemMatCARS 15-ID-B,C,D and XOR/CMC 9-ID-B,C beamlines.

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This story was published September 16, 2008.