Lie algebraic approach to multiphoton excitation of diatomic molecules in intense laser fields

The quadratic anharmonic oscillator Lie algebraic model is used to study the multiphoton transition of the diatomic molecule placed in intense laser fields. The multiphoton excitation of vibration and vibration‐rotation of diatomic molecules in intense laser fields are discussed. In the pure vibration transition we calculate the transition probability versus the frequency of the laser fields for the CO molecule. We also investigate the roles of rotational motion in multiphoton processes and compare with pure vibration for the LiH molecule. The influences of the angular quantum number l and the molecular orientations in laser fields on the multiphoton processes are discussed. The averaged absorb energy changing with the laser field's frequency is calculated. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 71: 201–207, 1999     

Theoretical study of above-threshold dissociation on diatomic molecules by using nonresonant intense laser pulses

The above-threshold dissociation of the ground state of a OH molecule under intense nonresonant laser pulses has been studied using the time-dependent Schr?dinger equation with discrete variable representation. The applied field is assumed as a two-color mixed nonresonant laser pulses which has the nonresonant frequency omega and the overtone 2omega. After modulating the relative phase factor between the omega and 2omega pulse, we extracted a three-photon absorption peak or a five-photon absorption peak in the ATD spectrum.     

Design of infrared laser pulses for the deexcitation of highly excited homonuclear diatomic molecules

We explore the possibility of using shaped infrared laser pulses to deexcite a homonuclear diatomic molecule from its highest vibrational state down to its ground vibrational state. The motivation for this study arises from the need to deexcite alkali metal dimers in a similar way so as to stabilize molecular Bose-Einstein condensates. We demonstrate that for the case of the H(2) molecule, where it is possible to evaluate all the necessary high accuracy ab initio data on the interaction of the molecule with an electric field, we are able to successfully design a sequence of infrared laser pulses to accomplish the desired deexcitation process in a highly efficient manner.     

Rotational excitation of diatomic molecules in exothermic processes

We describe a simple model which is capable of explaining the rotational distribution of N₂ after the quenching reaction Na(3p)+N₂ → Na(3s)+N₂. Restrictions by energy and total angular momentum conservation together with the dynamics in the product valley of the potential surface determine the rotational energy transfer.     

Unveiling the nonadiabatic rotational excitation process in a symmetric-top molecule induced by two intense laser pulses

We experimentally investigate the nonadiabatic rotational excitation process of a symmetric-top molecule, benzene, in the electronic ground state irradiated by intense nonresonant ultrafast laser fields. The initial rotational-state distribution was restricted mostly to the five lowest levels with different nuclear spin modifications by an extensive adiabatic cooling with the rotational temperature well below 1 K, and distributions after the interaction with a femtosecond double-pulse pair (3-5 TW/cm(2) each with 160 fs duration) with time delays were probed in a quantum-state resolved manner by employing resonant enhanced multiphoton ionization via the S(1) ← S(0) 6(0) (1) vibronic transition. Populations of 10 rotational levels with J ranging from 0 to 4 and K from 0 to 3 were examined to show an oscillatory dependence on the time delay between the two pulses. Fourier analysis of the beat signals provides the coupling strengths between the constituent levels of the rotational wave packets created by the nonadiabatic excitation. These data are in good agreement with the results from quantum mechanical calculations, evidencing stepwise excitation pathways in the wave packet creation with ΔJ = 2 in the K = 0 stack while ΔJ = 1 and 2 in the K > 0 stacks.     

A model potential for vibrational excitation of diatomic molecules

A model interaction potential for the vibrational excitation of H₂ by Li⁺ of the form C exp(−αx+βy) is studied using non-iterative integral techniques. The results show that vibrational excitation is sensitive to small quantitative change in qualitatively similar surfaces.     

A correlation of excited state rotational constants for diatomic molecules

The concepts of “orbital stress” and “transition stress” are defined and applied to N₂, N⁺₂, CO, and CO⁺. The bond lengths and rotational constants of excited electronic states are related to the transition stress, and the response of the electrons and nuclei to the transition stress is shown to be a molecular property, essentially independent of the electronic configuration or state.     

On the fixed-nuclei approximation as applied to rotational excitation of molecules by atoms

The applicability of the fixed-nuclei approximation to the rotational excitation of a diatomic molecule by an atom is investigated. The approximation is shown to predict accurate quantum cross sections for the model system H₂ + N₂ at thermal collision energies. A quasi-classical Monte-Carlo study of the same problem is also performed, and the success of the fixed-nuclei approximation is interpreted by investigating in detail a number of coplanar classical trajectories.     

On the vibrational relaxation of diatomic molecules at intermediate excitation

The theory of quasistationary vibrational distributions of diatomic molecules at low gas temperatures is developed for the case of intermediate excitation temperatures when the flow of quanta is nondiffusional in Treanor's part of the distribution. In certain conditions the distribution contains a region of inversion which is followed by a plateau.     

Probability of excitation of vibrations and dissociation of diatomic molecules

A numerical solution is given for the dynamic problem of collision between an atom and a diatomic molecule for the case of O₂ and Ar within the framework of classical mechanics. The molecule is approximated by the Rydberg-Klein-Riess oscillator. The probabilities of change in the vibrational state and dissociation of the molecule are calculated by the method of varying the initial conditions.The authors are indebted to N. A. Generalov, V. B. Leonas, and A. I. Osipov for useful discussion.     

Elastic scattering and rotational excitation of nitrogen molecules by sodium atoms

A quantal study of the rotational excitation of nitrogen molecules by sodium atoms is carried out. We present the two-dimensional potential energy surface of the NaN(2) complex, with the N(2) molecule treated as a rigid rotor. The interaction potential is computed using the spin unrestricted coupled-cluster method with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations (UCCSD(T)). The long-range part of the potential is constructed from the dynamic electric dipole polarizabilities of Na and N(2). The total, differential, and momentum transfer cross sections for rotationally elastic and inelastic transitions are calculated using the close-coupling approach for energies between 5 cm(-1) and 1500 cm(-1). The collisional and momentum transfer rate coefficients are calculated for temperatures between 100 K and 300 K, corresponding to the conditions under which Na-N(2) collisions occur in the mesosphere.     

Ab initio design of picosecond infrared laser pulses for controlling vibrational-rotational excitation of CO molecules

Optimal control of rovibrational excitations of the CO molecule using picosecond infrared laser pulses is described in the framework of the electric-nuclear Born-Oppenheimer approximation [G. G. Balint-Kurti et al., J. Chem. Phys. 122, 084110 (2005)]. The potential energy surface of the CO molecule in the presence of an electric field is calculated using coupled cluster theory with a large orbital basis set. The quantum dynamics of the process is treated using a full three dimensional treatment of the molecule in the laser field. The detailed mechanisms leading to efficient control of the selected excitation processes are discussed.     

Master equation approach to vibrational energy transfer between two diatomic molecules

In this paper a semiclassical non-markovian master equation is derived. We begin by using the well-known tetradic form of the Liouville equation for a reduced density operator. By projecting the diagonal matrix elements of the operator, we obtain an infinite-order master equation. This equation is then applied in the lowest-order approximation to collinear collisions between the diatomic molecules: H₂H₂, N₂N₂ and Cl₂Cl₂. With an assumed form of the interaction potential for such a problem we have also derived an analytical expression for the V—V transition probabilities. They are then calculated over a wide range of velocities of the colliding molecules and compared with exact semiclassical ones. An excellent agreement of the results is found for small velocities (i.e. υ ≈ 10⁴ cm/s). For larger values of υ (≈ 10⁵ cm/s) the results obtained from the master equation approach agree with the exact ones only in the low-velocity range for light molecules and low oscillatory states.     

Mode-focusing in molecules by feedback-controlled shaping of femtosecond laser pulses

The feasibility of mode-selective excitation with broadband femtosecond laser pulses is demonstrated for toluene in liquid phase. A learning-loop optimal control scheme was applied to a stimulated Raman excitation process. Modifications of the phase shape of one of the exciting pulses resulted in dramatic changes of the mode distribution reflected in coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectra. An evolutionary algorithm guided the coherent excitation process to a selective enhancement or suppression of one or more vibrational modes over the complete coherence lifetime spanning several picoseconds. New ways of spectral filtering as well as exciting possibilities of mode-selective studying of chemical reaction dynamics are indicated.     

Design of UV laser pulses for the preparation of matrix isolated homonuclear diatomic molecules in selective vibrational superposition states

The preparation of matrix isolated homonuclear diatomic molecules in a vibrational superposition state c0Phie=1,v=0+cjPhie=1,v=j, with large (|c0|2 approximately 1) plus small contributions (|cj|2<1) of the ground v=0 and specific v=j low excited vibrational eigenstates, respectively, in the electronic ground (e=1) state, and without any net population transfer to electronic excited (e>1) states, is an important challenge; it serves as a prerequisite for coherent spin control. For this purpose, the authors investigate two scenarios of laser pulse control, involving sequential or intrapulse pump- and dump-type transitions via excited vibronic states Phiex,k with a dominant singlet or triplet character. The mechanisms are demonstrated by means of quantum simulations for representative nuclear wave packets on coupled potential energy surfaces, using as an example a one-dimensional model for Cl2 in an Ar matrix. A simple three-state model (including Phi1,0, Phi1,j and Phiex,k) allows illuminating analyses and efficient determinations of the parameters of the laser pulses based on the values of the transition energies and dipole couplings of the transient state which are derived from the absorption spectra.     

Lie algebraic approach to the collinear collisions between two diatomic molecules

We present the quantum mechanical studies on the vibrational energy transfer in the inelastic collinear collision between two diatomic molecules using a dynamic Lie algebraic method of Alhassid and Levine [Phys. Rev. A 18 , 89 (1978)] within the semiclassical approximations. A dynamical algebra h₁₅ is formed and used for calculating the transition probabilities and the expectation values of the interaction potential. Under the first-order approximation of the group parameters, the selection rules for the transitions among the vibrational levels have been obtained. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 65 : 159–165, 1997     

Manipulation of molecular rotational dynamics with multiple laser pulses

In this paper, a theoretical model is proposed to investigate the molecular rotational state populations pumped by multiple laser pulses through an impulsive Raman process based on second-order perturbation theory and an analytical solution for the dependence of the rotational state populations on the time delays and the relative amplitudes of the multiple laser pulses has been achieved. The results indicate that the molecular rotational state populations can be controlled by precisely manipulating the time delays and the relative amplitudes, which can be significantly enhanced or completely suppressed, and so the molecular rotational wave packet and field-free molecular alignment can be efficiently manipulated.