Ultra-fast dynamic imaging: an overview of current techniques, their capabilities and future prospects

In this review we attempt to sketch an overview of the various methods currently being used or under development to enable ultra-fast dynamic imaging of matter. We concentrate on those techniques which combine atomic scale spatial resolution and femtosecond or even sub-femtosecond temporal resolution. In part this review was inspired and informed by the material presented at the ‘Ultrafast Dynamic Imaging II’ workshop held in Ischia, Italy in April 2009, but we also have drawn on a wider background of material especially when discussing the emerging laser-based methods.