Scientists from Queen’s University Belfast have reported a breakthrough on experimental physics, this finding demonstrates the mechanism in the process of killing cancer cells during chemotherapy. This study was published in Science.

The investigation of ultrafast processes in atoms received a major stimulus with the introduction of attosecond pulses in the extreme ultraviolet spectral region. In this study, researchers report the application of isolated attosecond pulses to prompt ionization of the amino acid phenylalanine and the subsequent detection of ultrafast dynamics on a sub-4.5-femtosecond temporal scale, which is shorter than the vibrational response of the molecule. They also present experimental evidence of ultrafast charge dynamics in the amino acid pheylanlanine after prompt ionization induced by isolated attosecond pulses.

The application of attosecond techniques to molecules offers the possibility of investigating primary relaxation processes, which invole electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom and their coupling.

The researchers hope to develop new chemotherapy for cancer treatment on the basis of this finding.

Reference:

Calegari F, Ayuso D, Trabattoni A, et al. Ultrafast electron dynamics in phenylalanine initiated by attosecond pulses[J]. Science, 2014, 346(6207): 336-339.