title: Structure determination of molecules in an alignment laser field by femtosecond photoelectron diffraction using an X-ray free-electron laser.
abstract: We have successfully determined the internuclear distance of I2molecules in an alignment laser field by applying our molecular structure determination methodology to an I 2p X-ray photoelectron diffraction profile observed with femtosecond X-ray free electron laser pulses. Using this methodology, we have found that the internuclear distance of the sample I2molecules in an alignment Nd:YAG laser field of 6 × 1011W/cm2is elongated by from 0.18 to 0.30 Å "in average" relatively to the equilibrium internuclear distance of 2.666 Å. Thus, the present experiment constitutes a critical step towards the goal of femtosecond imaging of chemical reactions and opens a new direction for the study of ultrafast chemical reaction in the gas phase.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichirou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minemoto
authors.affiliation: College of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Noji-higashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teramoto
authors.affiliation: Quantum Beam Science Research Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akagi
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Advanced Integration Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujikawa
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Majima
authors.affiliation: Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan.
authors.forename: Kyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Niki
authors.affiliation: RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Owada
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Togashi
authors.affiliation: Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan.
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tono
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Advanced Integration Science, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
authors.forename: Shota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuru
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Structure Science, KEK, 1-1 Oho, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0801, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan.
authors.forename: Makina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yabashi
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Structure Science, KEK, 1-1 Oho, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0801, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yagishita