Ultrafast Imaging and the Phase Problem for Inelastic X-Ray Scattering

✍ Scribed by Peter Abbamonte; Gerard C. L. Wong; David G. Cahill; James P. Reed; Robert H. Coridan; Nathan W. Schmidt; Ghee Hwee Lai; Young Il Joe; Diego Casa

• Book ID: 101417897
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 259 KB
• Volume: 22
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0935-9648
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.200904098

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

A new method for imaging ultrafast dynamics in condensed matter using inelastic X‐ray scattering (IXS) is described. Using the concepts of causality and irreversibility a general solution to the inverse scattering problem (or “phase problem”) for IXS is illustrated, which enables direct imaging of dynamics of the electron density with resolutions of ∼1 attosecond (10^−18^ s) in time and <1 Å in space. This method is not just Fourier transformation of the IXS data, but a means to impose causality on the data and reconstruct the charge propagator. The method can also be applied to inelastic electron or neutron scattering. A general outline of phenomena that can and cannot be studied with this technique and an outlook for the future is provided.