Capturing molecular movies by snatching data before samples are destroyed
In short: Scientists can now film the microscopic world in high-definition, creating "molecular movies" of life in action. By using pulses of light so intense they are 100 times brighter than all the sunlight hitting Earth focused onto a thumbnail, researchers can snatch data from delicate samples in the split second before they are destroyed.
Free-electron lasers (XFELs) function as high-energy X-ray microscopes. Unlike traditional lasers that use atomic excitations, XFELs use relativistic electrons as a gain medium. In a process that began with theoretical concepts 50 years ago, these machines accelerate electron bunches to near-light speeds. As these electrons pass through an undulator—a series of intricately arranged magnets—they are forced to wiggle back and forth. This transverse motion causes them to generate X-rays that synchronize like a choir, creating "coherent" laser light.
The precision of these tools allows for unprecedented observation of biological and chemical processes. At SLAC’s Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), researchers have used XFELs to uncover the 3D molecular structures of proteins involved in transmitting disease. This level of detail helps in developing next-generation drug therapies with fewer side effects by showing exactly how drugs dock to specific receptors. They have also captured the first live snapshots of photosynthesis and studied the microscopic components of air pollution.
The engineering required is immense. At LCLS, a drive laser strikes a copper plate to release electrons, which are then boosted by cryomodules. Duration of the produced pulses reaches a mere millionth of a billionth of a second. While these pulses are powerful enough to blow samples apart, they act like "nimble cat burglars," capturing necessary information in the instant before destruction. Future upgrades aim to fire these pulses up to a million times per second, enabling a new generation of experiments in materials science and fusion research.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: XFELs: Spying on atoms and molecules
- Also: Free-electron laser
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