title: Adiabatic Field-Free Alignment of Asymmetric Top Molecules with an Optical Centrifuge.
abstract: We use an optical centrifuge to align asymmetric top SO_{2} molecules by adiabatically spinning their most polarizable O-O axis. The effective centrifugal potential in the rotating frame confines the sulfur atoms to the plane of the laser-induced rotation, leading to the planar molecular alignment that persists after the molecules are released from the centrifuge. The periodic appearance of the full three-dimensional alignment, typically observed only with linear and symmetric top molecules, is also detected. Together with strong in-plane centrifugal forces, which bend the molecules by up to 10 deg, permanent field-free alignment offers new ways of controlling molecules with laser light.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z1, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Korobenko
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z1, Canada.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Milner