Open AccessResolving dynamic fragmentation of liquids at the nanoscale with ultrafast small‐angle X‐ray scattering
Author(s) -
Chen Sen,
Chai Hai-Wei,
He An-Min,
Tschentscher Thomas,
Cai Yang,
Luo Sheng-Nian
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of synchrotron radiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.172
H-Index - 99
ISSN - 1600-5775
DOI - 10.1107/s160057751900732x
Subject(s) - small angle x ray scattering , scattering , nanoscopic scale , materials science , ultrashort pulse , fragmentation (computing) , optics , computational physics , physics , nanotechnology , laser , computer science , operating system
High‐brightness coherent ultrashort X‐ray free‐electron lasers (XFELs) are promising in resolving nanoscale structures at the highest temporal resolution (∼10 fs). The feasibility is explored of resolving ultrafast fragmentation of liquids at the nanoscale with single‐shot small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) on the basis of large‐scale molecular dynamics simulations. Fragmentation of liquid sheets under adiabatic expansion is investigated. From the simulated SAXS patterns, particle‐volume size distributions are obtained with the regularization method and average particle sizes with the weighted Guinier method, at different expansion rates. The particle sizes obtained from simulated SAXS are in excellent agreement with direct cluster analysis. Pulse‐width effects on SAXS measurements are examined. The results demonstrate the feasibility of resolving the nanoscale dynamics of fragmentation and similar processes with SAXS, and provide guidance for future XFEL experiments and data interpretation.