Fig. 4: Electron-driven dynamics for a quantum beating of (3d, 4p) Rydberg states monitored at ε = 250 meV.
From: Capturing electron-driven chiral dynamics in UV-excited molecules
a, Temporal evolution of the coherent part of the electron density over one period of the quantum beating (see equation (1)). b, Photoelectron yield as a function of the pump–probe delay, oscillating in phase with the variation of the electron density shown in a, as expected from equations (1) and (2). c, MP-PECD as a function of the pump–probe delay according to equation (3). d, Snapshots of the electronic current induced by the pump pulse, on a Rydberg sphere of 10 a.u. radius surrounding the molecule for two distinct orientations \({\widehat{{\bf{R}}}}_{i}\). Propensity rules enhance ionization for orientation \({\widehat{{\bf{R}}}}_{1}\), for which the current co-rotates with the circularly polarized probe field (red arrow). e, Active orientation of the produced cations along the light-propagation axis \(\widehat{{\bf{z}}}\) as a function of time according to equation (6). f, Resulting FBFA along \(\widehat{{\bf{z}}}\) in the reactive fragmentation of methyl lactate cations (see equation (7)). The insets illustrate the preferential directions of emission of CO2CH3 and CH3CHOH+ fragments. a.u., arbitrary units.
