Simulation of x-ray absorption near-edge spectra and x-ray fluorescence spectra of optically excited molecules

Femtosecond-Terawatt Hard X-Ray Pulse Generation with Chirped Pulse Amplification on a Free Electron Laser

Advances of high intensity lasers have opened up the field of strong field physics and led to a broad range of technological applications. Recent x-ray laser sources and optics development makes it possible to obtain extremely high intensity and brightness at x-ray wavelengths. In this Letter, we present a system design that implements chirped pulse amplification for hard x-ray free electron lasers. Numerical modeling with realistic experimental parameters shows that near-transform-limit single-femtosecond hard x-ray laser pulses with peak power exceeding 1 TW and brightness exceeding 4×10^{35}  s^{-1} mm^{-2} mrad^{-2}0.1%  bandwdith^{-1} can be consistently generated. Realization of such beam qualities is essential for establishing systematic and quantitative understanding of strong field x-ray physics and nonlinear x-ray optics phenomena.

Annular beam high-intensity X-ray diffraction based on an ellipsoidal single-bounce monocapillary

This short communication presents a study of the use of an annular X-ray beam produced by an ellipsoidal single-bounce monocapillary (ESBC) to perform focal construct geometry (FCG) high-intensity angular-dispersive X-ray diffraction (ADXRD) in transmission mode. The ESBC optic effectively focused a large focal spot X-ray source into a smaller focal spot and produced a narrowed X-ray ring in the far-field pattern when combined with a beam stop. A CCD imaging detector was linearly translated along the principal axis of the ESBC-FCG and obtained the corresponding sequential images of diffraction concentric circular caustics and convergence points, which were formed by the constructive interference of a continuous set of Debye cones arising from the annular interrogation volume. Pixels from the central region of an approximately 0.6 mm2 area were interrogated on each sequential image; as a result, a one-dimensional diffractogram of an aluminium oxide sample was revealed. The presented ESBC-FCG ADXRD technique shows potential for increasing the diffracted intensity and streamlining the operation of crystallographic analysis.

X-ray absorption signatures of the molecular environment in water and ice

The x-ray absorption spectra of water and ice are calculated with a many-body approach for electron-hole excitations. The experimental features, including the effects of temperature change in the liquid, are reproduced from configurations generated by ab initio molecular dynamics. The spectral difference between the solid and the liquid is due to two major short-range order effects. One, due to breaking of hydrogen bonds, enhances the pre-edge intensity in the liquid. The other, due to a nonbonded molecular fraction in the first coordination shell, affects the main spectral edge in the conversion of ice to water. This effect may not involve hydrogen bond breaking as shown by experiment in high-density amorphous ice.

X-ray emission spectroscopy to study ligand valence orbitals in Mn coordination complexes

We discuss a spectroscopic method to determine the character of chemical bonding and for the identification of metal ligands in coordination and bioinorganic chemistry. It is based on the analysis of satellite lines in X-ray emission spectra that arise from transitions between valence orbitals and the metal ion 1s level (valence-to-core XES). The spectra, in connection with calculations based on density functional theory (DFT), provide information that is complementary to other spectroscopic techniques, in particular X-ray absorption (XANES and EXAFS). The spectral shape is sensitive to protonation of ligands and allows ligands, which differ only slightly in atomic number (e.g., C, N, O...), to be distinguished. A theoretical discussion of the main spectral features is presented in terms of molecular orbitals for a series of Mn model systems: [Mn(H(2)O)(6)](2+), [Mn(H(2)O)(5)OH](+), and [Mn(H(2)O)(5)NH(3)](2+). An application of the method, with comparison between theory and experiment, is presented for the solvated Mn(2+) ion in water and three Mn coordination complexes, namely [LMn(acac)N(3)]BPh(4), [LMn(B(2)O(3)Ph(2))(ClO(4))], and [LMn(acac)N]BPh(4), where L represents 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, acac stands for the 2,4-pentanedionate anion, and B(2)O(3)Ph(2) represents the 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-dibora-2-oxapropane-1,3-diolato dianion.

Simulation of X-ray Absorption Near Edge Spectra of Organometallic Compounds in the Ground and Optically Excited States

The Mg K-edge and Zn K- and L3-edge X-ray absorption near edge spectra of Mg and Zn porphyrins in the ground state and low-lying optically excited states are calculated. Also computed are X-ray absorption near edge spectra of Fe(II) spin crossover compound in its ground and low-lying optically excited states, motivated by a recent experiment (J. Phys. Chem. A 2006, 110, 38). The calculated absorption spectra of optically excited states can be used to simulate ultrafast optical pump/X-ray probe experiments.