Visualization of graphite atomic arrangement by stereo atomscope

The direct visualization of an atomic arrangement is essential for understanding the nature of materials. The rotation of forward focusing peaks in photoelectron angular distribution (PEAD) patterns excited by circularly polarized light with the opposite helicities are found to be the same as the parallax in stereo view. Taking advantage of this phenomenon of PEAD circular dichroism, the three-dimensional atomic arrangement image of graphite crystal was realized. Taking a stereo picture around carbon atom, which has been thought difficult due to a small angular momentum of photoelectron, proved that this method is applicable to all materials including biomolecules. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.