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