Efficient molecular dissociation by a chirped ultrashort infrared laser pulse

Dissociation of HeH+ in the electronic ground state using shaped mid-IR laser pulses

Inspired by recent experimental work, we study the control over the laser-driven dissociation of the HeH+ ion in the electronic ground state. Shaped pulses with peak intensities below 1012 W cm-2 are obtained by phase modulation of high-intensity transform-limited femtosecond pulses. We investigate the performance of pulse shaping for a number of shaping parameters targeting both vibrational and rotational excitation pathways. The numerical results show that pulse shaping is most effective at low pulse energies and broad spectral bandwidths, while intense transform-limited pulses with narrow spectral bandwidths maximize dissociation. We show that the control achieved with a quadratic chirped pulse optimized for vibrational ladder climbing, a cascade excitation process of adjacent vibrational levels, is hindered by rotational motion leading to significantly reduced dissociation. Moreover, pulse shaping using higher-order polynomial phase functions is found to provide only a marginal increase in dissociation yields. Our results provide additional insights into the coherent control of bond breaking in diatomic molecules, and demonstrate the efficacy of pulse shaping for a range of pulse energies.

Generation of High-Lying Vibrational States in Carbon Dioxide through Coherent Ladder Climbing

Mid-infrared laser excitation of molecules into high-lying vibrational states offers a novel route to realize controlled ground-state chemistry. Here we successfully demonstrate vibrational ladder climbing in the antisymmetric stretch of CO2 in the condensed phase by using intense down-chirped mid-infrared pulses. Spectrally resolved pump-probe measurements directly observe excited-state absorptions attributed to vibrational populations up to the v = 9 state, whose corresponding energy of 2.5 eV is 46% of the dissociation energy. By the use of global fitting analysis, important spectroscopic parameters in the high-lying vibrational states, such as transition frequencies and relaxation times, are quantitatively characterized. Remarkably, our analysis shows that 40% of the molecules are excited above the typical activation barriers in the metal-catalyzed CO2 conversions. These results not only demonstrate the promising ability of infrared excitation to produce elevated vibrational states but also represent a significant step toward accelerating CO2 conversions and other chemical processes via mode-specific vibrational excitation.

Unraveling the ultrafast dynamics of thermal-energy chemical reactions

In this perspective, we discuss how one can initiate, image, and disentangle the ultrafast elementary steps of thermal-energy chemical dynamics, building upon advances in technology and scientific insight. We propose that combinations of ultrashort mid-infrared laser pulses, controlled molecular species in the gas phase, and forefront imaging techniques allow to unravel the elementary steps of general-chemistry reaction processes in real time. We detail, for prototypical first reaction systems, experimental methods enabling these investigations, how to sufficiently prepare and promote gas-phase samples to thermal-energy reactive states with contemporary ultrashort mid-infrared laser systems, and how to image the initiated ultrafast chemical dynamics. The results of such experiments will clearly further our understanding of general-chemistry reaction dynamics.

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.

Time-domain spectroscopy of methane excited by resonant high-energy mid-IR pulses

We describe the implementation of nonlinear time-domain spectroscopy of rotovibrational IR-active modes in methane through broadband Four-Wave Mixing driven by resonant high-energy mid infrared laser pulses. At high driving pulse intensities we observe an efficient vibrational ladder climbing triggered in the molecules. This study opens the possibility to impulsively and selectively excite molecules of biological interest to high-lying vibrational states and to characterize their dynamics.

Nonchaotic laser pulse dissociation through deformed tori

We consider the nonlinear classical dynamics of a diatomic molecule under the action of a laser field in the framework of the driven Morse oscillator model. We investigate the influence of the dipole function and the laser field on the deformations of the surviving, invariant tori. For intense and high-frequency fields, some invariant tori traverse the separatrix of motion, visiting both the bound and unbound regions of the interatomic potential. Based on this fact, we propose the use of appropriately designed laser pulses to induce dissociation of trajectories on such invariant tori. This mechanism constitutes a controlled nonchaotic route for dissociation, which is an alternative to chaotic multiphoton dissociation and to chirped pulse dissociation.

Short-pulse lasers for weather control

Filamentation of ultra-short TW-class lasers recently opened new perspectives in atmospheric research. Laser filaments are self-sustained light structures of 0.1-1 mm in diameter, spanning over hundreds of meters in length, and producing a low density plasma (10¹⁵-10¹⁷ cm^-3) along their path. They stem from the dynamic balance between Kerr self-focusing and defocusing by the self-generated plasma and/or non-linear polarization saturation. While non-linearly propagating in air, these filamentary structures produce a coherent supercontinuum (from 230 nm to 4 µm, for a 800 nm laser wavelength) by self-phase modulation (SPM), which can be used for remote 3D-monitoring of atmospheric components by Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging). However, due to their high intensity (10¹³-10¹⁴ W cm^-2), they also modify the chemical composition of the air via photo-ionization and photo-dissociation of the molecules and aerosols present in the laser path. These unique properties were recently exploited for investigating the capability of modulating some key atmospheric processes, like lightning from thunderclouds, water vapor condensation, fog formation and dissipation, and light scattering (albedo) from high altitude clouds for radiative forcing management. Here we review recent spectacular advances in this context, achieved both in the laboratory and in the field, reveal their underlying mechanisms, and discuss the applicability of using these new non-linear photonic catalysts for real scale weather control.

Transient Two-Dimensional Infrared Spectroscopy in a Vibrational Ladder

We report on transient 2D Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (2DIR) after vibrational ladder climbing induced in the CO-moiety longitudinal stretch of carboxyhemoglobin. The population distribution, spreading up to seven vibrational levels, results in a nonequilibrium 2DIR spectrum evidencing a large number of peaks that can be easily attributed to individual transitions thanks to the anharmonicity of the vibrational potential. We discuss the physical origin of the observed peaks as well as the qualitative behavior of the subsequent dynamics governed by population relaxation in the vibrational ladder.

Non-resonant dynamic stark control of vibrational motion with optimized laser pulses

The term dynamic Stark control (DSC) has been used to describe methods of quantum control related to the dynamic Stark effect, i.e., a time-dependent distortion of energy levels. Here, we employ analytical models that present clear and concise interpretations of the principles behind DSC. Within a linearly forced harmonic oscillator model of vibrational excitation, we show how the vibrational amplitude is related to the pulse envelope, and independent of the carrier frequency of the laser pulse, in the DSC regime. Furthermore, we shed light on the DSC regarding the construction of optimal pulse envelopes - from a time-domain as well as a frequency-domain perspective. Finally, in a numerical study beyond the linearly forced harmonic oscillator model, we show that a pulse envelope can be constructed such that a vibrational excitation into a specific excited vibrational eigenstate is accomplished. The pulse envelope is constructed such that high intensities are avoided in order to eliminate the process of ionization.

Theoretical study of Raman chirped adiabatic passage by X-ray absorption spectroscopy: highly excited electronic states and rotational effects

Raman Chirped Adiabatic Passage (RCAP) is an efficient method to climb the vibrational ladder of molecules. It was shown on the example of fixed-in-space HCl molecule that selective vibrational excitation can thus be achieved by RCAP and that population transfer can be followed by X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy [S. Engin, N. Sisourat, P. Selles, R. Taïeb, and S. Carniato, Chem. Phys. Lett. 535, 192-195 (2012)]. Here, in a more detailed analysis of the process, we investigate the effects of highly excited electronic states and of molecular rotation on the efficiency of RCAP. Furthermore, we propose an alternative spectroscopic way to monitor the transfer by means of X-ray absorption spectra.

Laser-driven localization of collective CO vibrations in metal-carbonyl complexes

Using the example of a cobalt dicarbonyl complex it is shown that two perpendicular linearly polarized IR laser pulses can be used to trigger an excitation of the delocalized CO stretching modes, which corresponds to an alternating localization of the vibration within one CO bond. The switching time for localization in either of the two bonds is determined by the energy gap between the symmetric and asymmetric fundamental transition frequencies. The phase of the oscillation between the two local bond excitations can be tuned by the relative phase of the two pulses. The extend of control of bond localization is limited by the anharmonicity of the potential energy surfaces leading to wave packet dispersion. This prevents such a simple pulse scheme from being used for laser-driven bond breaking in the considered example.

Enhancement of vibrational excitation and dissociation of H2(+) in infrared laser pulses

We study vibrational excitations, dissociation, and ionization of H(2)(+) in few-cycle laser pulses over a broad wavelength regime. Our results of numerical simulations supported by model calculations show a many orders-of-magnitude enhancement of vibrational excitation and dissociation (over ionization) of the molecular ion at infrared wavelengths. The enhancement occurs without any chirping of the pulse, which was previously applied to take account of the anharmonicity of the molecular vibrations. The effect is related to strong-field two- and higher-order photon transitions between different vibrational states.

Intensity enhancement in the molecular ionization and dissociation dynamics in the presence of noise

The ionization and the dissociation of the diatomic molecular ion H(2)(+) have been investigated within a scheme where a noise field is added to an intense infrared laser field. The results show that both the ionization and the dissociation probabilities are enhanced with the introduction of the additional noise (the Gaussian white noise or the color noise) field. Further, by tuning the noise intensity and the delay time between the laser and the noise, a stochastic resonancelike curve is observed for the ionization or the dissociation dynamics, showing the existence of an optimal noise intensity and delay time for the given laser field.

The effects of electron-hole pair coupling on the infrared laser-controlled vibrational excitation of NO on Au(111)

In this work, we present theoretical simulations of laser-driven vibrational control of NO adsorbed on a gold surface. Our goal is to tailor laser pulses to selectively excite specific modes and vibrational eigenstates, as well as to favor photodesorption of the adsorbed molecule. To this end, various control schemes and algorithms are applied. For adsorbates at metallic surfaces, the creation of electron-hole pairs in the substrate is known to play a dominant role in the transfer of energy from the system to the surroundings. These nonadiabatic couplings are included perturbatively in our reduced density matrix simulations using a generalization of the state-resolved position-dependent anharmonic rate model we recently introduced. An extension of the reduced density matrix is also proposed to provide a sound model for photodesorption in dissipative systems.

Ladder climbing on the anharmonic intermolecular potential in an amino acid microcrystal via an intense monocycle terahertz pulse

We experimentally demonstrated 20 ladder climbing steps on the anharmonic intermolecular potential in the amino-acid microcrystals with an intense monocycle terahertz pulse. Absorption spectra show the suppression of the peak and enhancement of the low-frequency absorption for the incident electric field amplitude. These results are reproduced by simulations based on coherent transition processes between quantum levels in the anharmonic potential. The appearance of such nonlinearity allows us to control macroscopic motion via a phase-controlled terahertz pulse.

The long-term evolution of D2+ nuclear wave-packet with interaction of intense femtosecond laser pulse

We investigate the long-term evolution of D2+ nuclear wave-packet after interacting with a 5 fs, 800 nm laser pulse at an intensity of 0.5 x 10(14) W/cm2. The nuclear wave-packet evolves in field-free condition for very long time after the laser pulse. The collapse and revival of nuclear wave-packet is studied. The scale of the classical time (approximately 25 fs), the revival time (approximately 580 fs) and the super-revival time (approximately 12 ps) are determined from the simulation as well as the calculation. The constituents of long-standing nuclear wave-packet are also analyzed.

Frequency-resolved optical gating system with a tellurium crystal for characterizing free-electron lasers in the wavelength range of 10-30 microm

A second-harmonic generation frequency-resolved optical gating (SHG-FROG) system has been developed for the complete characterization of laser pulses in the wavelength range of 10-30 microm. A tellurium crystal is used so that spectrally resolved autocorrelation signals with a good signal-to-noise ratio are obtained. Pulses (wavelength approximately 22 microm) generated from a free-electron laser are measured by the SHG-FROG system. The SHG intensity profile and the spectrum obtained by FROG measurements are well consistent with those of independent measurements of the pulse length and spectrum. The pulse duration and spectral width determined from the FROG trace are 0.6 ps and 5.2 THz at full width half maximum, respectively.

Pulse-train control of branching processes: elimination of background and intruder state population

The authors introduce and describe pulse train control (PTC) of population branching in strongly coupled processes as a novel control tool for the separation of competing multiphoton processes. Control strategies are presented based on the different responses of processes with different photonicities and/or different frequency detunings to the pulse-to-pulse time delay and the pulse-to-pulse phase shift in pulse trains. The control efficiency is further enhanced by the property of pulse trains that complete population transfer can be obtained over an extended frequency range that replaces the resonance frequency of simple pulses. The possibility to freely tune the frequency assists the separation of the competing processes and reduces the number of subpulses required for full control. As a sample application, PTC of leaking multiphoton resonances is demonstrated by numerical simulations. In model systems exhibiting sizable background (intruder) state population if excited with single pulses, PTC leading to complete accumulation of population in the target state and elimination of background population is readily achieved. The analysis of the results reveals different mechanisms of control and provides clues on the mechanisms of the leaking process itself. In an alternative setup, pulse trains can be used as a phase-sensitive tool for level switching. By changing only the pulse-to-pulse phase shift of a train with otherwise unchanged parameters, population can be transferred to any of two different target states in a near-quantitative manner.

From stochastic pulse optimization to a stereoselective laser pulse sequence: simulation of a chiroptical molecular switch mounted on adamantane

Quantum dynamical simulations for the laser-controlled isomerization of 1-(2-cis-fluoroethenyl)-2-fluorobenzene mounted on adamantane are reported based on a one-dimensional electronic ground-state potential and dipole moment calculated by density functional theory. The model system 1-(2-cis-fluoroethenyl)-2-fluorobenzene supports two chiral and one achiral atropisomers upon torsion around the C-C single bond connecting the phenyl ring and ethylene group. The molecule itself is bound to an adamantyl frame which serves as a model for a linker or a surface. Due to the C3 symmetry of the adamantane molecule, the molecular switch can have three equivalent orientations. An infrared picosecond pulse is used to excite the internal rotation around the chiral axis, thereby controlling the chirality of the molecule. In order to selectively switch the molecules--independent of their orientations-- from their achiral to either their left- or right-handed form, a stochastic pulse optimization algorithm is applied. A subsequent detailed analysis of the optimal pulse allows for the design of a stereoselective laser pulse sequence of analytical form. The developed control scheme of elliptically polarized laser pulses is enantioselective and orientation-selective.

Strong field multiphoton inversion of a three-level system using shaped ultrafast laser pulses

We demonstrate strong-field population inversion in a three-level system with single and multiphoton coupling between levels using a single shaped ultrafast laser pulse. Our interpretation of the pulse shape dependence illustrates the difference between sequential population transfer and adiabatic rapid passage in three-level systems with multiphoton coupling between levels.

Population transfer between two quantum states by piecewise chirping of femtosecond pulses: theory and experiment

We propose and experimentally demonstrate the method of population transfer by piecewise adiabatic passage between two quantum states. Coherent excitation of a two-level system with a train of ultrashort laser pulses is shown to reproduce the effect of an adiabatic passage, conventionally achieved with a single frequency-chirped pulse. By properly adjusting the amplitudes and phases of the pulses in the excitation pulse train, we achieve complete and robust population transfer to the target state. The piecewise nature of the process suggests a possibility for the selective population transfer in complex quantum systems.

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.

Laser-operated chiral molecular switch: quantum simulations for the controlled transformation between achiral and chiral atropisomers

We report quantum dynamical simulations for the laser controlled isomerization of 1-(2-cis-fluoroethenyl)-2-fluorobenzene based on one-dimensional electronic ground and excited state potentials obtained from (TD)DFT calculations. 1-(2-cis-fluoroethenyl)-2-fluorobenzene supports two chiral and one achiral atropisomers, the latter being the most stable isomer at room temperature. Using a linearly polarized IR laser pulse the molecule is excited to an internal rotation around its chiral axis, i.e. around the C-C single bond between phenyl ring and ethenyl group, changing the molecular chirality. A second linearly polarized laser pulse stops the torsion to prepare the desired enantiomeric form of the molecule. This laser control allows the selective switching between the achiral and either the left- or right-handed form of the molecule. Once the chirality is "switched on" linearly polarized UV laser pulses allow the selective change of the chirality using the electronic excited state as intermediate state.