Real-Space Observation of Molecular Motion Induced by Femtosecond Laser Pulses

Femtosecond laser irradiation is used to excite adsorbed CO molecules on a Cu(110) surface; the ensuing motion of individual molecules across the surface is characterized on a site-to-site basis by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy. Adsorbate motion both along and perpendicular to the rows of th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2004-07, Vol.305 (5684), p.648-651
Main Authors: Bartels, Ludwig, Wang, Feng, Möller, Dietmar, Knoesel, Ernst, Heinz, Tony F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atoms & subatomic particles
Climate
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Contrapuntal motion
Copper
Copper (Metal)
Degrees of freedom
Desorption
Electric properties
Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures
Exact sciences and technology
Feedback (Response)
Imaging
Impurity and defect levels
energy states of adsorbed species
Innovations
Irradiation
Irradiation (Radiation exposure)
Kinetics
Laser beams
Lasers
Microscopy
Molecules
Particle physics
Physics
Radiation
Research Methodology
Researchers
Scanning tunneling microscopy
Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces
Surface and interface electron states
Surface diffusion
Surface temperature
Surfaces and interfaces
thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties)
Technology application
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Description
Summary:Femtosecond laser irradiation is used to excite adsorbed CO molecules on a Cu(110) surface; the ensuing motion of individual molecules across the surface is characterized on a site-to-site basis by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy. Adsorbate motion both along and perpendicular to the rows of the Cu(110) surface occurs readily, in marked contrast to the behavior seen for equilibrium diffusion processes. The experimental findings for the probability and direction of the molecular motion can be understood as a manifestation of strong coupling between the adsorbates' lateral degrees of freedom and the substrate electronic excitation produced by the femtosecond laser radiation.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1099770