But studying such fast-moving particles with precision is difficult. There are techniques such as electron diffraction and laser spectroscopy, but these conventional methods either suffer from poor resolution or require complex and costly experimental setups.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) have an interesting solution to this problem. In their new study, they reveal a new technique to observe fast-moving electrons moving inside molecules with incredible precision.
Time-resolved vortex electron diffraction
Electrons don’t always move randomly; they can show synchronized wave-like motion in a process called transient electronic coherence. This short-lived electron behavior is observed when electrons are excited by an energy source such as an electric field or light.