Overview

• The team induced controlled explosions in 2-iodopyridine molecules using femtosecond X-ray pulses and recorded fragment trajectories with a specialized COLTRIMS reaction microscope.
• Analysis of the 11-atom molecule revealed synchronized zero-point vibrations, providing the first direct evidence of correlated quantum motion at absolute zero in a complex system.
• Quantum-inclusive simulations successfully reproduced the observed atomic patterns in contrast to classical models, confirming the necessity of quantum effects for accurate predictions.
• Dr. Gregor Kastirke’s XFEL-tailored COLTRIMS apparatus captured fragment impact times and positions with femtosecond precision, enabling detailed three-dimensional reconstructions.
• Researchers are now preparing follow-up experiments to image faster electron-scale dynamics and to apply the technique to larger molecular assemblies for real-time molecular movies.