Capturing the Unseen: SLAC's Electron Camera Reveals Proton Speed

Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University have successfully used an ultrafast "electron camera" to capture the motion of hydrogen atoms within ammonia molecules. This breakthrough technique, known as ultrafast electron diffraction (UED), allows scientists to study hydrogen transfers, which are critical in driving many biological and chemical reactions. By observing the structural changes during proton transfers, researchers hope to gain insights into the mechanisms behind these reactions, which could have important implications in fields such as structural biology.