Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter – Ultrafast Electron Diffraction Experiments and Software for Experimental Control

Ultrafast electron diffraction (UED) is an established tool to record atomic motion on very short timescales well below one picosecond. The sample, typically less than 100 nanometers thick, is first excited with an optical pump-pulse leading to the rearrangement of its atomic or molecular constituents. Subsequently, the structural changes are probed by a short electron pulse which scatters off the sample to form an interpretable diffraction pattern on a distant detector. By setting a time delay between the pump-pulse and the probe-pulse, different time points of the dynamical rearrangements of the excited sample can be recorded allowing the creation of animated molecular movements. This project utilizes UED to investigate fast dynamics in organic crystals, semiconductors, and high-temperature superconductors. However, these experiments require precise and accurate control of its hardware components. Inspired by existing software systems employed at leading accelerators and synchrotron facilities, a smaller-scale communication protocol needs to be developed to remotely control the hardware components to perform the experiment and analyze the data. This project strives to create a robust and intuitive UED system to tackle challenges in understanding fast dynamics and their implications for the functioning of future engineering materials.

Faculty Supervisor:

Arthur Chan

Student:

Partner:

Max Planck Institute

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Technology; Quantum Science; Information and Communications Technology

University:

University of Toronto

Program: