LCLS | XPP | Iodine Molecular Movie

This movie, derived from LCLS data, shows an iodine molecule moving in the first 2 trillionths of a second after being excited by a laser pulse. The clouds of blue dots represent the molecule’s two atoms, at top and bottom, which are joined by a bond through the middle. As the molecule starts to vibrate, the atoms oscillate back and forth. In some cases the bonds break and the atoms fly away. Clouds of red dots represent atoms in the unexcited state of the molecule, which exists simultaneously with its excited state in a Schroedinger’s Cat-like quantum paradox. (J.M. Glownia et al., Physical Review Letters)