Research at the European XFEL: Small quantum systems research on core-hole state dynamics in oxygen

Jan-Erik B. I. Rubensson from Uppsala University in Sweden conducted the first extreme ultraviolet (XUV) spectrometer experiment at the Small Quantum Systems instrument (SQS) at the European XFEL. The new 1D imaging X-ray spectrometer was used to investigate how non-linear processes can influence the core-hole state dynamics observed in the resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra of oxygen. Stimulated emission and additional excitations effectively gate the wave-packet evolution. By tuning pulse intensity and central frequency of two incident X-ray pulses Rubensson and his team studied the influence on the dynamics in detail.