Split-pulse X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy with seeded X-rays from X-ray laser to study atomic-level dynamics

Femtosecond x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy enables direct observations of atomic-scale relaxations of glass forming liquids

Glass-forming liquids exhibit structural relaxation behaviors, reflecting underlying atomic rearrangements on a wide range of timescales and playing a crucial role in determining material properties. However, the relaxation processes on the atomic scale are not well-understood due to the experimental difficulties in directly characterizing the evolving correlations of atomic-scale order in disordered systems. Here, we harness the coherence and ultrashort pulse characteristics of an x-ray free electron laser to directly probe atomic-scale ultrafast relaxation dynamics in the model system Ge15Te85. We demonstrate an analysis strategy for determining the intermediate scattering function by extracting the contrast decay of summed scattering patterns from two rapidly successive, nearly identical femtosecond x-ray pulses generated by a split-delay system. The result indicates a full decorrelation of atomic-scale order on the sub-picosecond timescale, supporting the argument for a high-fluidity fragile state of liquid Ge15Te85 above its dynamic crossover temperature. The demonstrated strategy opens an avenue for experimental studies of relaxation dynamics in liquids, glasses, and other highly disordered systems.

Direct observation of ultrafast cluster dynamics in supercritical carbon dioxide using X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy

Supercritical fluids exhibit distinct thermodynamic and transport properties, making them of particular interest for a wide range of scientific and engineering applications. These anomalous properties emerge from structural heterogeneities due to the formation of molecular clusters at conditions above the critical point. While the static behavior of these clusters and their effects on the thermodynamic response functions have been recognized, the relation between the ultrafast cluster dynamics and transport properties remains elusive. By measuring the intermediate scattering function in carbon dioxide at conditions near the critical point with X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy, we directly capture the cross-over dynamics between 4 and 13 picoseconds, revealing the transition between ballistic and diffusive motion. Complementary analysis using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations reveals that this behavior arises from collisions between unbound molecules and clusters. This study provides direct evidence of the ultrafast momentum exchange between clusters, which has significant impact on transport properties, solvation processes, and reaction kinetics in supercritical fluids.

Hard X-ray Fourier transform holography at free electron lasers source

We report on the feasibility of Fourier transform holography in the hard X-ray regime using a Free Electron Laser source. Our study shows successful single and multi-pulse holographic reconstructions of the nanostructures. We observe beam-induced heating of the sample exposed to the intense X-ray pulses leading to reduced visibility of the holographic reconstructions. Furthermore, we extended our study exploring the feasibility of recording holographic reconstructions with hard X-ray split-and-delay optics. Our study paves the way towards studying dynamics at sub-nanosecond timescales and atomic lengthscales.

Pulse-doubling perovskite nanowire lasers enabled by phonon-assisted multistep energy funneling

Laser pulse multiplication from an optical gain medium has shown great potential in miniaturizing integrated optoelectronic devices. Perovskite multiple quantum wells (MQWs) structures have recently been recognized as an effective gain media capable of doubling laser pulses that do not rely on external optical equipment. Although the light amplifications enabled with pulse doubling are reported based on the perovskite MQWs thin films, the micro-nanolasers possessed a specific cavity for laser pulse multiplication and their corresponding intrinsic laser dynamics are still inadequate. Herein, a single-mode double-pulsed nanolaser from self-assembled perovskite MQWs nanowires is realized, exhibiting a pulse duration of 28 ps and pulse interval of 22 ps based on single femtosecond laser pulse excitation. It is established that the continuous energy building up within a certain timescale is essential for the multiple population inversion in the gain medium, which arises from the slowing carrier localization process owning to the stronger exciton-phonon coupling in the smaller-n QWs. Therefore, the double-pulsed lasing is achieved from one fast energy funnel process from the adjacent small-n QWs to gain active region and another slow process from the spatially separated ones. This report may shed new light on the intrinsic energy relaxation mechanism and boost the further development of perovskite multiple-pulse lasers.

A versatile pressure-cell design for studying ultrafast molecular-dynamics in supercritical fluids using coherent multi-pulse x-ray scattering

Supercritical fluids (SCFs) can be found in a variety of environmental and industrial processes. They exhibit an anomalous thermodynamic behavior, which originates from their fluctuating heterogeneous micro-structure. Characterizing the dynamics of these fluids at high temperature and high pressure with nanometer spatial and picosecond temporal resolution has been very challenging. The advent of hard x-ray free electron lasers has enabled the development of novel multi-pulse ultrafast x-ray scattering techniques, such as x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) and x-ray pump x-ray probe (XPXP). These techniques offer new opportunities for resolving the ultrafast microscopic behavior in SCFs at unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution, unraveling the dynamics of their micro-structure. However, harnessing these capabilities requires a bespoke high-pressure and high-temperature sample system that is optimized to maximize signal intensity and address instrument-specific challenges, such as drift in beamline components, x-ray scattering background, and multi-x-ray-beam overlap. We present a pressure cell compatible with a wide range of SCFs with built-in optical access for XPCS and XPXP and discuss critical aspects of the pressure cell design, with a particular focus on the design optimization for XPCS.

Revealing core-valence interactions in solution with femtosecond X-ray pump X-ray probe spectroscopy

Femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy using ultrafast optical and infrared pulses has become an essential tool to discover and understand complex electronic and structural dynamics in solvated molecular, biological, and material systems. Here we report the experimental realization of an ultrafast two-color X-ray pump X-ray probe transient absorption experiment performed in solution. A 10 fs X-ray pump pulse creates a localized excitation by removing a 1s electron from an Fe atom in solvated ferro- and ferricyanide complexes. Following the ensuing Auger-Meitner cascade, the second X-ray pulse probes the Fe 1s → 3p transitions in resultant novel core-excited electronic states. Careful comparison of the experimental spectra with theory, extracts +2 eV shifts in transition energies per valence hole, providing insight into correlated interactions of valence 3d with 3p and deeper-lying electrons. Such information is essential for accurate modeling and predictive synthesis of transition metal complexes relevant for applications ranging from catalysis to information storage technology. This study demonstrates the experimental realization of the scientific opportunities possible with the continued development of multicolor multi-pulse X-ray spectroscopy to study electronic correlations in complex condensed phase systems.

Real Space and Time Imaging of Collective Headgroup Dipole Motions in Zwitterionic Lipid Bilayers

Lipid bilayers are supramolecular structures responsible for a range of processes, such as transmembrane transport of ions and solutes, and sorting and replication of genetic materials, to name just a few. Some of these processes are transient and currently, cannot be visualized in real space and time. Here, we developed an approach using 1D, 2D, and 3D Van Hove correlation functions to image collective headgroup dipole motions in zwitterionic phospholipid bilayers. We show that both 2D and 3D spatiotemporal images of headgroup dipoles are consistent with commonly understood dynamic features of fluids. However, analysis of the 1D Van Hove function reveals lateral transient and re-emergent collective dynamics of the headgroup dipoles-occurring at picosecond time scales-that transmit and dissipate heat at longer times, due to relaxation processes. At the same time, the headgroup dipoles also generate membrane surface undulations due a collective tilting of the headgroup dipoles. A continuous intensity band of headgroup dipole spatiotemporal correlations-at nanometer length and nanosecond time scales-indicates that dipoles undergo stretching and squeezing elastic deformations. Importantly, the above mentioned intrinsic headgroup dipole motions can be externally stimulated at GHz-frequency scale, enhancing their flexoelectric and piezoelectric capabilities (i.e., increased conversion efficiency of mechanical energy into electric energy). In conclusion, we discuss how lipid membranes can provide molecular-level insights about biological learning and memory, and as platforms for the development of the next generation of neuromorphic computers.

Demonstration of 3D photon correlation spectroscopy in the hard X-ray regime

Three-dimensional photon correlation spectroscopy (3D PCS) is a well-known technique developed to suppress multiple scattering contributions in correlation functions, which are inevitably involved when an optical laser is employed to investigate dynamics in a turbid system. Here, we demonstrate a proof-of-principle study of 3D PCS in the hard X-ray regime. We employ an X-ray optical cross-correlator to measure the dynamics of silica colloidal nanoparticles dispersed in polypropylene glycol. The obtained cross correlation functions show very good agreement with auto-correlation measurements. This demonstration provides the foundation for X-ray speckle-based studies of very densely packed soft matter systems.

Single-shot experiments at the soft X-FEL FERMI using a back-side-illuminated scientific CMOS detector

The latest Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) 2D sensors now rival the performance of state-of-the-art photon detectors for optical application, combining a high-frame-rate speed with a wide dynamic range. While the advent of high-repetition-rate hard X-ray free-electron lasers (FELs) has boosted the development of complex large-area fast CCD detectors in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and soft X-ray domains, scientists lacked such high-performance 2D detectors, principally due to the very poor efficiency limited by the sensor processing. Recently, a new generation of large back-side-illuminated scientific CMOS sensors (CMOS-BSI) has been developed and commercialized. One of these cost-efficient and competitive sensors, the GSENSE400BSI, has been implemented and characterized, and the proof of concept has been carried out at a synchrotron or laser-based X-ray source. In this article, we explore the feasibility of single-shot ultra-fast experiments at FEL sources operating in the EUV/soft X-ray regime with an AXIS-SXR camera equipped with the GSENSE400BSI-TVISB sensor. We illustrate the detector capabilities by performing a soft X-ray magnetic scattering experiment at the DiProi end-station of the FERMI FEL. These measurements show the possibility of integrating this camera for collecting single-shot images at the 50 Hz operation mode of FERMI with a cropped image size of 700 × 700 pixels. The efficiency of the sensor at a working photon energy of 58 eV and the linearity over the large FEL intensity have been verified. Moreover, on-the-fly time-resolved single-shot X-ray resonant magnetic scattering imaging from prototype Co/Pt multilayer films has been carried out with a time collection gain of 30 compared to the classical start-and-stop acquisition method performed with the conventional CCD-BSI detector available at the end-station.

Nonuniform Flow Dynamics Probed by Nanosecond X-Ray Speckle Visibility Spectroscopy

We report observations of nanosecond nonuniform colloidal dynamics in a free flowing liquid jet using ultrafast x-ray speckle visibility spectroscopy. Utilizing a nanosecond double-bunch mode, the Linac Coherent Light Source free electron laser produced pairs of femtosecond coherent hard x-ray pulses. By exploring anisotropy in the visibility of summed speckle patterns which relates to the correlation functions, we evaluate not only the average particle flow rate in a colloidal nanoparticle jet, but also the nonuniform flow field within. The methodology presented here establishes the foundation for the study of nano- and atomic-scale inhomogeneous fluctuations in complex matter using x-ray free electron laser sources.

From Femtoseconds to Hours—Measuring Dynamics over 18 Orders of Magnitude with Coherent X-rays

X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) enables the study of sample dynamics between micrometer and atomic length scales. As a coherent scattering technique, it benefits from the increased brilliance of the next-generation synchrotron radiation and Free-Electron Laser (FEL) sources. In this article, we will introduce the XPCS concepts and review the latest developments of XPCS with special attention on the extension of accessible time scales to sub-μs and the application of XPCS at FELs. Furthermore, we will discuss future opportunities of XPCS and the related technique X-ray speckle visibility spectroscopy (XSVS) at new X-ray sources. Due to its particular signal-to-noise ratio, the time scales accessible by XPCS scale with the square of the coherent flux, allowing to dramatically extend its applications. This will soon enable studies over more than 18 orders of magnitude in time by XPCS and XSVS.

Aptamers: The Powerful Molecular Tools for Virus Detection

Aptamers are short single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides selected by the technique of systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). Aptamers have been demonstrated to bind various targets from small-molecule to cells or even tissues in the way of antibodies. Thus, they are called chemical antibodies. We summarize and evaluate recent developments in aptamer-based sensors (for short aptasensors) for virus detection in this review. These aptasensors are mainly classified into optical and electronic aptasensors based on the type of transducer. Nowadays, the smartphone has become the most widely used mobile device with billions of users worldwide. Considering the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, smartphone-based aptasensors for a portable and point-of-care test (POCT) of COVID-19 detection will be of great importance in the future.

X-ray diffraction analysis of matter taking into account the second harmonic in the scattering of powerful ultrashort pulses of an electromagnetic field

It is well known that the scattering of ultrashort pulses (USPs) of an electromagnetic field in the X-ray frequency range can be used in diffraction analysis. When such USPs are scattered by various polyatomic objects, a diffraction pattern appears from which the structure of the object can be determined. Today, there is a technical possibility of creating powerful USP sources and the analysis of the scattering spectra of such pulses is a high-precision instrument for studying the structure of matter. As a rule, such scattering occurs at a frequency close to the carrier frequency of the incident USP. In this work, it is shown that for high-power USPs, where the magnetic component of USPs cannot be neglected, scattering at the second harmonic appears. The scattering of USPs by the second harmonic has a characteristic diffraction pattern which can be used to judge the structure of the scattering object; combining the scattering spectra at the first and second harmonics therefore greatly enhances the diffraction analysis of matter. Scattering spectra at the first and second harmonics are shown for various polyatomic objects: examples considered are 2D and 3D materials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and hybrid structures consisting of nanotubes. The theory developed in this work can be applied to various multivolume objects and is quite simple for X-ray structural analysis, because it is based on analytical expressions.