Ultrafast Electron Dynamics in a Biomolecule Initiated by Attosecond Pulses

Article: published in Science by Fernando Martín, IFIMAC researcher.

By using attosecond pulses to promptly ionize the amino acid phenylalanine, a group of European researchers led by Fernando Martín and Mauro Nisoli, have detected an ultrafast response of purely electronic origin, which is characterized by a charge oscillation with two main frequency components corresponding to periods of 2.8 fs and 4.2 fs. Electron dynamics in biomolecules on a temporal scale preceding nuclear motion is at the heart of many biological processes. [Full article]