Hitting molecules with two photons of light at once set off unexpected processes that were captured in detail with SLAC’s X-ray laser. Scientists say this new approach should work for bigger and more complicated molecules, too, allowing new insights into molecular behavior.

In the decade since LCLS produced its first light, it has pushed boundaries in countless areas of discovery.

A better understanding of these systems will aid in developing next-generation energy technologies.

Revealed for the first time by a new X-ray laser technique, their surprisingly unruly response has profound implications for designing and controlling materials.