Real-time observation of a correlation-driven sub 3 fs charge migration in ionised adenine.

ABSTRACT: Sudden ionisation of a relatively large molecule can initiate a correlation-driven process dubbed charge migration, where the electron density distribution is expected to rapidly move along the molecular backbone. Capturing this few-femtosecond or attosecond charge redistribution would represent the real-time observation of electron correlation in a molecule with the enticing prospect of following the energy flow from a single excited electron to the other coupled electrons in the system. Here, we report a time-resolved study of the correlation-driven charge migration process occurring in the nucleic-acid base adenine after ionisation with a 15-35 eV attosecond pulse. We find that the production of intact doubly charged adenine - via a shortly-delayed laser-induced second ionisation event

SUBMITTER: Mansson EP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9814501 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature