Time-resolved cathodoluminescence of DNA triggered by picosecond electron bunches

Jean Philippe Renault (1) , Bruno Lucas (2) , Thomas Gustavsson (3, 4) , Alain Huetz (5) , Thomas Oksenhendler (6) , Elena-Magdalena Staicu-Casagrande (5) , Marie Géléoc (3, 7)

1 LIONS - Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire sur l'Organisation Nanométrique et Supramoléculaire
2 LPGP - Laboratoire de physique des gaz et des plasmas
3 LIDyl - Laboratoire Interactions, Dynamiques et Lasers (ex SPAM)
4 DICO - Dynamique et Interactions en phase Condensée
5 ISMO - Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay
6 iTEOX
7 LUMO - LUmière et MOlécules

Despite the tremendous importance of so-called ionizing radiations (X-rays, accelerated electrons and ions) in cancer treatment, most studies on their effects have focused on the ionization process itself, and neglect the excitation events the radiations can induce. Here, we show that the excited states of DnA exposed to accelerated electrons can be studied in the picosecond time domain using a recently developed cathodoluminescence system with high temporal resolution. our study uses a table-top ultrafast, UV laser-triggered electron gun delivering picosecond electron bunches of keV energy. this scheme makes it possible to directly compare time-resolved cathodoluminescence with photoluminescence measurements. This comparison revealed qualitative differences, as well as quantitative similarities between excited states of DnA upon exposure to electrons or photons.

Domains: Chemical Sciences; Material chemistry

Jean Philippe Renault, Bruno Lucas, Thomas Gustavsson, Alain Huetz, Thomas Oksenhendler, et al.. Time-resolved cathodoluminescence of DNA triggered by picosecond electron bunches. Scientific Reports, 2020, 10 (1), pp.5071. ⟨10.1038/s41598-020-61711-x⟩. ⟨cea-02512923⟩