English

Observation of laser power changes in ultrafast protein dynamics

184
2024-02-28 15:00:41
See translation

When researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Medicine conducted their first ultrafast X-ray crystallographic experiment on myoglobin in 2015, they were not aware that they had conducted the wrong experiment. By increasing the power of X-ray free electron lasers to ensure usable diffraction patterns, lead researcher Ilme Schlichting said that they "suddenly entered the wrong [excited] state without noticing.".

The laser did not observe a single photon excitation pathway that reflects the natural dynamics of myoglobin, but instead violently collided to induce multiphoton absorption. This raises a question, is the oscillation they see in protein artifacts this more energetic excitation? Now, Schlichting and her team have conducted experiments again at lower power for inspection.

The result surprised Schlichting. "We anticipate slight changes in the dynamics, but what we see is a significant change in carbon monoxide," she said. Unlike the instant photolysis they observed at high laser power, this reaction took hundreds of femtoseconds at low power. She said that the group modeled their observations and attributed their results to two different reaction pathways, the latter of which may better represent real reactions.

However, myoglobin only differs slightly at low power. This reassures Richard Neutz, a biochemistry professor at the University of Gothenburg. Although unrelated to the group, he did review the work before publication and wrote corresponding opinions on the impact of the results. "This work is very important because it indicates that we were not completely wrong before," he said. Essentially, past high-power experiments were not perfect, but still provided valuable insights into protein dynamics. "On the other hand," Neutze said, "the author also suggests that if you are really interested in ultrafast chemistry, it is important to conduct experiments correctly because there are subtle differences in the mechanisms that are important.".

In the end, Schlichting said that researchers only need to remain transparent about the systems they are engaged in. These experiments themselves are challenging. "Sometimes you either go home without any data or do it in a multiphoton state," she said, "but you should be honest with it.".

Source: Laser Net

Related Recommendations
  • HP100A-50KW-GD laser power detector for measuring extremely high power laser beams

    The HP100A-50KW-GD laser power detector is mainly designed for manufacturers of high-power lasers and laser systems, factories that use high-power lasers to cut thick metal parts, and military applications.The HP100A-50KW-GD adopts a gold reflector cone and a reduced back reflection geometry, which can capture 97% of incident light and process up to 50 kW of continuous laser power. The back reflec...

    2024-01-16
    See translation
  • Uncovering the Secrets of Nature: A New Generation of X-ray Lasers Reveals the Mystery of Atoms

    As a breakthrough leap in scientific exploration, the new generation of powerful X-ray lasers is now targeting the fastest and most basic processes in nature. Their mission: to uncover the complex atomic arrangement that drives these phenomena, providing unprecedented insights into chemical reactions, electronic behavior in materials, and the mysteries of the natural world.Unlocking the precise me...

    2023-09-25
    See translation
  • Abnormal relativistic emission generated by strong interaction between laser and plasma reflector

    The interaction between strong laser pulses and plasma mirrors has been a focus of recent physical research, as they generate interesting effects. Experiments have shown that these interactions can generate a nonlinear physical process called high-order harmonics, characterized by emitting extreme ultraviolet radiation and brief flashes of laser light.Researchers from the Czech Extreme Light Infra...

    2023-12-04
    See translation
  • Sales and order volume of Deutsche Bahn Group have decreased

    Recently, TRUMPF, a leading global provider of machine tools and laser technology solutions, released preliminary data for the 2023/24 fiscal year: compared to the previous fiscal year, sales decreased by about 4% year-on-year to 5.2 billion euros; The order amount decreased by 10% to 4.6 billion euros. The Tongkuai Group ended its 2023/24 fiscal year on June 30, 2024, with a decrease in both s...

    2024-07-22
    See translation
  • Progress in Research on Transparent Ceramics for 3D Printing Laser Illumination at Shanghai Institute of Optics and Mechanics

    It is reported that the Research Center for Infrared Optical Materials of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics has made progress in the research of additive manufacturing (3D printing) transparent ceramics for laser illumination.Recently, the Research Center for Infrared Optical Materials of the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chines...

    2023-10-17
    See translation