Laser-induced alignment and orientation of quantum-state-selected large molecules.
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 one-dimensional alignment (cos;(2)theta_(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.
Holmegaard
Lotte
L
Department of Chemistry, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Nielsen
Jens H
JH
Nevo
Iftach
I
Stapelfeldt
Henrik
H
Filsinger
Frank
F
Küpper
Jochen
J
Meijer
Gerard
G
D007462:Iodobenzenes / Q000737:chemistry; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011789:Quantum Theory
D007462:Iodobenzenes; D010455:Peptides; C031905:iodobenzene