uri physics colloquium

Watching electrons move in molecules

Dr. François Mauger

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.