CHEM 590X students went on a field trip to the Advanced Photon Source synchrotron at Argonne National Lab. We received a rare "behind the scenes" tour of the APS including the linac, PAR, booster and storage ring itself during the APS shutdown period. We also got a tour of the Center for Nanomaterials at Argonne National Lab.

A new femtosecond laser was installed close to the MRL Hitachi-9500 ETEM. It consists of a femtosecond 1030 nm pump laser (Pharos) and a 260-2600 nm OPA (Orpheus) both from Light Conversion. The laser will be used to photo-generate the electrons in the ETEM as well as to excite the sample under study for pump-probe experiments. With a femtosecond resolution, we will be able to observe light-induced ultrafast dynamics at nanometer scales in various materials.

Cecilia presents her work for the Advanced Photon Source Science Advisory Committee Review of Sector 7-ID Pump-Probe!

The .gif above shows a real time movie of a single-shot laser pulse within the TEM.