Unravelling and manipulating the photo-induced electronic and vibrational dynamics of adenine

In a joint experimental and theoretical effort led by the CFEL-ATTO postdoctoral researcher Erik P. Månsson, the ultrafast dynamics of the DNA building block adenine, upon photoionization by extreme ultraviolet (XUV) light, was examined using time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. The work demonstrates that a number of relaxation pathways can be suppressed or enhanced by carefully adjusting the delay of a near-infrared probe pulse on the few-femtosecond timescale, making a step forward towards the manipulation of photochemical processes in bio-relevant molecules at ultrafast timescales.

The article is published in J. Phys. Photonics as part of the special edition Focus on Nanophotonics and Biophotonics for Biomedical and Environmental Applications [1].

Congratulations to Erik and all co-authors!

1. E.P. Månsson et al., ‘Ultrafast dynamics of adenine following XUV ionization’ J. Phys. Photonics 4 (2022) 034003

More details can be found here