Time-Resolved Photoemission Electron Microscopy

Investigation of dynamic processes on surfaces with high temporal and spatial resolution is indispensable for understanding a variety of fundamental as well as technologically relevant phenomena. Prerequisite to such investigations is an experimental technique capable of providing real-time images of dynamic processes on surfaces. Time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy (TR-PEEM) has proven to be a unique tool for the earlier-mentioned purposes. So far, the technique has provided groundbreaking insights, in particular into catalytic surface reactions, sub-nanosecond magnetization dynamics, and ultrafast phenomena in plasmonic nanostructures. TR-PEEM has the potential to ultimately achieve a lateral resolution of a few nanometers at a temporal resolution on the attosecond timescale. Accordingly, TR-PEEM is a particularly promising tool to tackle current and future challenges in surface and materials science.