Instantaneous dynamics and quantum control fields: Principle and numerical applications

Post-Ionization Dynamics of the Polar Molecule OCS in Asymmetric Laser Fields

We have investigated the dissociation mechanisms of the prototypical heavy polar molecule OCS into the two break-up channels of the dication, OCS²⁺ → O⁺ + CS⁺ and OC⁺ + S⁺, in phase-locked two-color intense laser fields. The branching ratio of the breaking of the C–O and C–S bonds followed a pronounced 2π-oscillation with a modulation depth of 11%, depending on the relative phase of the two-color laser fields. The fragment ejection direction of both break-up channels reflects the anisotropy of the tunneling ionization rate, following a 2π-periodicity, as well. The two dissociation pathways in the C–S bond breaking channel show different phase dependencies of the fragment ejection direction, which are assigned to post-ionization dynamics. These observations, resulting from the excitation with asymmetric two-color intense laser fields, supported by state-of-the-art theoretical simulations, reveal the importance of post-ionization population dynamics in addition to tunneling ionization in the molecular fragmentation processes, even for heavy polar molecules.

Laser-Driven Anharmonic Oscillator: Ground-State Dissociation of the Helium Hydride Molecular Ion by Midinfrared Pulses

The vibrational motion of molecules represents a fundamental example of an anharmonic oscillator. Using a prototype molecular system, HeH^{+}, we demonstrate that appropriate laser pulses make it possible to drive the nuclear motion in the anharmonic potential of the electronic ground state, increasing its energy above the potential barrier and facilitating dissociation by purely vibrational excitation. We find excellent agreement between the frequency-dependent response of the helium hydride molecular cation to both classical and quantum mechanical simulations, thus removing any ambiguities through electronic excitation. Our results provide access to the rich dynamics of anharmonic quantum oscillator systems and pave the way to state-selective control schemes in ground-state chemistry by the adequate choice of the laser parameters.

Local control of ultrafast dynamics of magnetic nanoparticles

Using the local control theory we derive analytical expressions for magnetic field pulses that steer the magnetization of a monodomain magnetic nanoparticle to a predefined state. Finite-temperature full numerical simulations confirm the analytical results and show that a magnetization switching or freezing is achievable within few precessional periods and that the scheme is exploitable for fast thermal switching.

Local control theory applied to molecular photoassociation

Local control theory (LCT) is employed to achieve molecular photoassociation with shaped laser pulses. Within LCT, the control fields are constructed from the response of the system to the perturbation which makes them accessible to a straightforward interpretation. This is shown regarding the ground-state collision of H+F and H+I atoms. Different objectives are defined, which aim at the formation of vibrational cold or hot associated molecules, respectively. Results are presented for s-wave scattering, where the rotational degree of freedom is ignored and also for full scale calculations including rotations, in order to describe more realistic conditions.

Pulse shaping for optimal control of molecular processes

In this paper, a new method is proposed to design optimized control fields with desired temporal and/or spectral properties. The method is based on penalizing the difference between an optimized field obtained from an iterative scheme and a reference field with desired temporal and/or spectral properties. Compared with the standard optimal control theory, the current method allows a simple, experimentally accessible field be found on the fly; while compared with parameter space searching optimization, the iterative nature of this method allows automatic exploration of the intrinsic mechanism of the population transfer. The method is illustrated by examing the optimal control of vibrational excitation of the Cl-O bond with both temporally and spectrally restricted pulses.

Local control of the quantum dynamics in multiple potential wells

The driven wave-packet dynamics in potentials exhibiting several potential wells is investigated. Therefore, local-control strategies are employed where the control field is constructed from the system's dynamics at any instant of time. It is shown that particles can be moved successively between various potential minima. Furthermore, results presented indicate that the intuitive local-control scheme allows for the initiation of a clockwise or counterclockwise rotational motion of a model molecular motor.

Local control of molecular fragmentation: The role of orientation

Local control theory, where the instantaneous response of a system to an external field determines the control field, is employed for the purpose of inducing molecular fragmentation processes via infrared excitation. In particular, the effects of the orientational motion are investigated and compared with the idealized case of a frozen rotation. It is shown that the rotational degree of freedom is crucial for the applicability of the employed local control algorithm. The addition of an additional static electric field which induces a molecular preorientation offers an efficient way for the local control. In particular, with increasing static field strength, the fragmentation yield approaches unity so that the idealized rotationless case is recovered. Numerical results are presented for the NaI molecule.

Laser control of vibrational excitation in carboxyhemoglobin: A quantum wave packet study

A coherent control algorithm is applied to obtain complex-shaped infrared laser pulses for the selective vibrational excitation of carbon monoxide at the active site of carbonmonoxyhemoglobin, modeled by the six-coordinated iron-porphyrin-imidazole-CO complex. The influence of the distal histidine is taken into account by an additional imidazole molecule. Density-functional theory is employed to calculate a multidimensional ground-state potential energy surface, and the vibrational dynamics as well as the laser interaction is described by quantum wave-packet calculations. At each instant in time, the optimal electric field is calculated and used for the subsequent quantum dynamics. The results presented show that the control scheme is applicable to complex systems and that it yields laser pulses with complex time-frequency structures, which, nevertheless, have a clear physical interpretation.