www.sciencedaily.com
Scientists used powerful X-rays and lasers to observe a buckyball molecule disintegrating. By varying laser intensity, they tracked the molecule’s expansion, splitting, and electron loss through detailed scattering measurements. Unexpectedly, predicted oscillations in the molecule’s behavior were not observed, suggesting gaps in existing theoretical models of how molecules respond to intense light. This experiment provides new insights into the fundamental processes of molecular fragmentation under extreme conditions.
