uri physics colloquium
Watching electrons move in molecules
Dr. François Mauger
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Friday, Feb 07, 2020
4 pm, East Hall Room 112
abstract
Electrons are the glue that holds matter together: Their spatial arrangement defines chemical bonds and their time evolution controls reactions. Probing electronic structures and dynamics at the spatial and temporal scales of electron motions in molecules is a formidable challenge. However, experimental facilities like X-ray lasers and table-top attosecond sources, as well as state-of the-art theoretical tools are making rapid progress. In this talk I will discuss recent developments and future perspectives for watching coherent electron motion in molecules. This research, at the frontier of ultrafast science, involves cross-disciplinary approaches intersecting atomic and molecular physics and chemistry, optics and lasers, applied mathematics and computer science.