Researchers from the Fritz Haber Institute at the Max Planck Society have filmed atoms roaming before exploding, revealing a hidden driver of radiation damage. The team utilized advanced microscopy at major synchrotron facilities to capture the process recently, according to a report by ScienceDaily. This breakthrough provides the most detailed real-space and real-time view of electron-transfer-mediated decay to date, marking a significant advancement.
High-energy radiation harms living cells by disturbing atoms and molecules during the decay process. When particles become excited, they often break down and destroy important biomolecules within larger biological systems. Scientists study these decay processes closely to understand how radiation causes damage and how it might be reduced in future applications.
The team focused on a specific radiation-driven process called electron-transfer-mediated decay within a model system. They constructed a simple trimer made of one neon atom weakly bound to two krypton atoms for the investigation. After knocking out an electron using soft X-rays, they followed how the system evolved for up to one picosecond before the decay occurred.
Using advanced COLTRIMS reaction microscopes at BESSY II and PETRA III, the researchers reconstructed the exact arrangement of atoms. They paired these measurements with detailed ab initio simulations that tracked thousands of possible atomic pathways. The findings revealed something unexpected regarding the movement of particles during the critical window.
The atoms did not stay fixed in place during the observation period as previous theories suggested. Instead, they moved in a roaming-like pattern, constantly changing their positions and reshaping the structure of the system. This motion strongly affected both the timing and the outcome of the decay event significantly.
We can literally watch how the atoms move before the decay happens, says Florian Trinter, one of the lead authors. The decay is not just an electronic process because it is steered by nuclear motion in a very direct and intuitive way. This realization changes how scientists view the fundamental mechanics of atomic interaction during energy release.
ETMD has drawn growing interest because it produces low-energy electrons that can trigger chemical damage in liquids. Knowing how this process depends on atomic arrangement and motion is essential for accurately modeling radiation damage in water. Accurate modeling is vital for interpreting ultrafast X-ray experiments in medical and industrial settings.
The results support the development of theoretical models that can apply these insights to larger and more complex systems. By offering a precise benchmark for the simplest system capable of ETMD with three atoms, this study provides a foundation for extending these ideas. Future research will apply these findings to liquids, solvated ions, and biological systems to improve safety standards globally.
