Femtosecond Electron Diffraction Study of the Cyclization Reaction in Crystalline Diarylethene

Abstract

Femtosecond electron diffraction is used to directly resolve the atomic motions involved in the ring closing reaction induced in a photochromic single crystal. The measurements were performed using our newly developed setup capable of delivering sub-500 fs electron bunches containing 106 electrons per pulse. Theoretical calculations were also performed.