Scientists in Germany have, for the first time, recorded the vibration of atoms in a 2-iodopyridine molecule just before its collapse under the impact of an X-ray laser. Using the European XFEL in Hamburg, they employed ultrashort X-ray pulses that stripped electrons, turning the molecule into a highly charged system that rapidly disintegrated. Analysis of the fragments’ motion allowed researchers to reconstruct the molecule’s structure and quantum dynamics.
Observations were conducted using the COLTRIMS microscope, which detects charged particles on a femtosecond scale, creating a three-dimensional map of the molecule before its collapse. The results showed that the fragments moved not in a flat geometry but with slight curvature, indicating coherent quantum motion rather than thermal vibrations, even at absolute zero temperature.
Comparison with computer simulations confirmed that classical physics couldn’t explain the data—only quantum effects provided an accurate match. According to Till Jahnke from XFEL, this discovery reveals the quantum zero-point motion present in all systems. Arno Rouzée from the Max Born Institute noted that this breakthrough in molecular imaging opens new horizons for chemistry and quantum physics.
Additionally, the experiment, conducted on August 10, 2025, could influence the development of quantum technologies, such as ultra-precise sensors. Future XFEL studies plan to explore more complex molecules, expanding our understanding of quantum processes in real time.
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