Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: We consider solid surface scattering of molecules that were subject to strong non-resonant ultrashort laser pulses just before hitting the surface. The pulses modify the rotational state of the molecules, causing their field-free alignment, or a rotation with a preferred sense. We show that field-free laser-induced molecular alignment leads to correlation between the scattering angle and the sense of rotation of the scattered molecules. Moreover, by controlling the sense of laser-induced unidirectional molecular rotation, one may affect the scattering angle of the molecules. This provides a new means for separation of mixtures of molecules (such as isotopes and nuclear-spin isomers) by laser-controlled surface scattering.
Source: Molecular Physics
Authors: Yuri Khodorkovsky, J. R. Manson, Ilya Sh. Averbukh
Institutions: Weizmann Institute of Science, Clemson University
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2049244604