X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) are unique tools that are making possible time-resolved measurements of structural and electronic dynamics at the quantum spatial and temporal scales. Jonathan Marangos discusses the transformative scientific potential of this capability but also stresses the importance of lowering barriers to access to maximize scientific reach.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$99.00 per year
only $8.25 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Bilderback, D. H., Elleaume, P. & Weckert, E. Review of third and next generation synchrotron light sources. J. Phys. B 38, S773 (2005).
Henderson, R. From electron crystallography to single particle cryo-EM (Nobel Lecture). Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 57, 10804–10825 (2019).
Haus, H. A. Mode-locking of lasers. IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 6, 1173–1185 (2000).
Krausz, F. & Ivanov, M. Attosecond physics. Rev. Mod. Phys. 81, 163 (2009).
Yang, J. et al. Diffractive imaging of a rotational wavepacket in nitrogen molecules with femtosecond megaelectronvolt electron pulses. Nat. Commun. 7, 11232 (2016).
Emma, P. et al. First lasing and operation of an ångstrom free electron laser. Nat. Photonics 4, 641–647 (2010).
Duris, J. et al. Tunable isolated attosecond X-ray pulses with gigawatt peak power from a free-electron laser. Nat. Photonics 14, 30–36 (2020).
Hartmann, N. et al. Attosecond time–energy structure of X-ray free-electron laser pulses. Nat. Photonics 12, 215–220 (2018).
Schneider, R. et al. Quantum imaging with incoherently scattered light from a free-electron laser. Nat. Phys. 14, 126–129 (2018).
Ourmazd, A. Cryo-EM, XFELs and the structure conundrum in structural biology. Nat. Methods 16, 941–944 (2019).
Acknowledgements
The author thanks the many scientists who have contributed to the UK XFEL Science Case and the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council for the funding that has enabled his participation in that project.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The author declares no competing interests.
Additional information
Related links
UK XFEL Project: https://www.clf.stfc.ac.uk/Pages/UK-XFEL-science-case.aspx
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marangos, J.P. Accessing the quantum spatial and temporal scales with XFELs. Nat Rev Phys 2, 332–334 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-020-0183-7
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42254-020-0183-7
