3D atomic structure from a single X-ray free electron laser pulse

Abstract

X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFEL) are cutting-edge pulsed x-ray sources, whose extraordinary pulse parameters promise to unlock unique applications. Several new methods have been developed at XFELs; however, no methods are known, which allow ab initio atomic level structure determination using only a single XFEL pulse. Here, we present experimental results, demonstrating the determination of the 3D atomic structure from data obtained during a single 25 fs XFEL pulse. Parallel measurement of hundreds of Bragg reflections was done by collecting Kossel line patterns of GaAs and GaP. To the best of our knowledge with these measurements, we reached the ultimate temporal limit of the x-ray structure solution possible today. These measurements open the way for obtaining crystalline structures during non-repeatable fast processes, such as structural transformations. For example, the atomic structure of matter at extremely non-ambient conditions or transient structures formed in irreversible physical, chemical, or biological processes may be captured in a single shot measurement during the transformation. It would also facilitate time resolved pump-probe structural studies making them significantly shorter than traditional serial crystallography.