Ultrafast X-ray Spectroscopy: Probing Dynamics at Fundamental Length and Time Scales

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Speaker(s): Ernie Glover

The non-equilibrium world in which we live is characterized by chemical reactions, phase transitions, and other dynamical processes which, ultimately, are mediated by the ultrafast (<10-12 sec) motion of individual atoms and molecules. Our ability to understand and eventually control how matter evolves at the microscopic level is hampered by an inability to ’see’ material dynamics on such ultrasmall spatial (10-10 m) and ultrafast temporal (10-15 s) dimensions. I will discuss how pump-probe techniques using femtosecond (1 fs = 10-15 s) x-ray pulses provides one avenue for resolving ultrafast chemical reactions, phase transitions, etc., on the characteristic spatial and temporal dimensions of atoms and molecules.

Colloquium

Junior and senior physics majors attend our biweekly colloquium series, held on Tuesday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. in Shanahan B460. The talks are open to all students and to the public, and are frequently attended by scientists from the other Claremont Colleges, Cal Poly Pomona, and others. The series features speakers from a broad range of institutions and fields of physics.