Rotation-induced breakdown of torsional quantum control.
Control of the torsional angles of nonrigid molecules is key for the development of emerging areas like molecular electronics and nanotechnology. Based on a rigorous calculation of the rotation-torsion-Stark energy levels of nonrigid biphenyl-like molecules, we show that, unlike previously believed, instantaneous rotation-torsion-Stark eigenstates of such molecules, interacting with a strong laser field, present a large degree of delocalization in the torsional coordinate even for the lowest energy states. This is due to a strong coupling between overall rotation and torsion leading to a breakdown of the torsional alignment. Thus, adiabatic control of changes on the planarity of this kind of molecule is essentially impossible unless the temperature is on the order of a few Kelvin.
Laboratoire Inter-universitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques, UMR 7583 du CNRS, Université Paris Est Créteil, 61 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94010 Créteil Cedex, France. laurent.coudert@lisa.u-pec.fr
L H
LH
Coudert
Luis F
LF
Pacios
Juan
J
Ortigoso
D007834:Lasers; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D011789:Quantum Theory; D012399:Rotation; D013816:Thermodynamics; D054159:Torsion, Mechanical