Click here to view fulltext PDF

Permanent link:
https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/pram/082/02/0249-0253

Molecules; femtosecond lasers; quantum coherent control; adaptive feedback control; molecular vibrational modes; spatial light modulator; genetic algorithm

We simulate adaptive feedback control to coherently shape a femtosecond infrared laser pulse by means of a 4f-spatial light modulator in order to selectively excite the rovibrational modes of a polyatomic molecule. We preferentially populate an arbitrarily chosen upper rovibrational level by only employing these tailored temporally shaped pulses. A second laser would then allow for mode selective chemistry to interact selectively with the excited population. Alternatively the excited molecules enhanced reactivity could be exploited for selective chemistry.

L R Botha¹ L E De Clercq² A M Smit¹ N Botha¹ E Ronander³ H J Strydom³

1. CSIR, National Laser Centre, Meiring Naude Road, Gauteng, Pretoria, RSA
2. Institute of Quantum Electronics, ETH Zürich, Schafmattstrasse 16, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
3. Klydon, Meiring Naude Road, Gauteng, Pretoria, RSA

Published

February 2014

Early published

12 February 2014