We show that the momentum flexibility of inelastic x-ray scattering may be exploited to invert its loss function, alowing real time imaging of density disturbances in a medium. We show the disturbance arising from a point source in liquid water, with a resolution of 41.3 attoseconds (4.13×10−17 sec) and 1.27 A˚ (1.27×10−8 cm). This result is used to determine the structure of the electron cloud around a photoexcited molecule in solution, as well as the wake generated in water by a 9 MeV gold ion. We draw an analogy with pump-probe techniques and suggest that energy-loss scattering may be applied more generally to the study of attosecond phenomena.
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0311373,
title = {Imaging density disturbances in water with 41.3 attosecond time resolution},
author = {P. Abbamonte and K. D. Finkelstein and M. D. Collins and S. M. Gruner},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0311373},
year = {2009}
}