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arXiv · 0810.2307

Laser-induced alignment and orientation of quantum-state-selected large molecules

Lotte Holmegaard·Jens H. Nielsen·Iftach Nevo·Henrik Stapelfeldt·Frank Filsinger·Jochen Küpper·Gerard Meijer
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Abstract

A strong inhomogeneous static electric field is used to spatially disperse a supersonic beam of polar molecules, according to their quantum state. We show that the molecules residing in the lowest-lying rotational states can be selected and used as targets for further experiments. As an illustration, we demonstrate an unprecedented degree of laser-induced 1D alignment $(<\cos^2θ_{2D}>=0.97)$ and strong orientation of state-selected iodobenzene molecules. This method should enable experiments on pure samples of polar molecules in their rotational ground state, offering new opportunities in molecular science.

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Lotte Holmegaard, Jens H. Nielsen, Iftach Nevo, Henrik Stapelfeldt, Frank Filsinger, Jochen Küpper, Gerard Meijer. 2008-10-13. Laser-induced alignment and orientation of quantum-state-selected large molecules. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.102.023001

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