Imaging Molecular Wavefunctions during Dissociation

Recent fragmentation control experiments with CHBr$_2$COCF$_3$ suggest an approach for measuring the dissociating wavepacket. The approach is based on detecting changes in fragmentation yields as the wave packet passes through a spatially dependent resonance. It is possible to measure the quantum mechanical probability density of the dissociating wavepacket directly. Furthermore, phase information about the nuclear wave function can be obtained using molecular wave packet interferometry. It is also possible to directly observe the consequences of entanglement between nuclear and electronic wave functions. This approach is general, and well suited for even large polyatomic molecules as long as they can be driven to dissociate and traverse a dynamic charge transfer resonance during dissociation.