Quantum resonances in selective rotational excitation of molecules with a sequence of ultrashort laser pulses

ORAL

Abstract

The periodically kicked rotor is a paradigm system for studying classical and quantum chaos. In the quantum regime, the dynamics of the kicked rotor exhibit such phenomena as suppression of classical chaos, Anderson localization in angular momentum and quantum resonances in the accumulation of rotational energy. Even though these effects have been studied with ultracold atoms in optical fields and Rydberg atoms in microwave fields, they have never been observed in a real rotational system. In this work we study the effect of quantum resonance in the rotational excitation of a diatomic molecule. By using femtosecond pulse shaping and rotational state-resolved detection, we measure the rotational distribution of molecules interacting with a train of pulses. We show enhancement of population transfer from the ground to the excited rotational states at resonance, and demonstrate selective rotational excitation of two nitrogen isotopes. We utilize fractional quantum resonances for separating para- and ortho-nitrogen, paving the way to novel methods of coherent control of molecular rotation.

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Authors

  • Sergey Zhdanovich

    The University of British Columbia

  • C. Andreoiu

    University of Washington, Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Department of Physics, McMaster University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford University, IFW-Dresden, Northern Illinois University, University of British Columbia, University of Michigan, Simon Fraser University, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, Washington State University, The University of British Columbia, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Oregon State University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Aixtron Ltd., Cornell University, TRIUMF, Society of Physics Students, Western Washington University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University, University of Portland, Pacific University, University of Idaho, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Emory University, SFU, Arizona State University, Research Centre J\"ulich, University of Victoria, EPM, \'Ecole Polytechnique de Montr\'eal (EPM), Technical U of Denmark, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, Linfield College, Portland State University, University of British Columbia Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Simon Fraser, Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos, McGill University, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CSNSM-IN2P3-CNRS, University of Manitobia, Univ. of British Columbia and TRIUMF, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat and MPI and TRIUMF, Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet, Univ. of Manitoba and TRIUMF, Tenische Universitaet Muenchen and TRIUMF, Simon Fraser Univ. and TRIUMF, University of British Columbia, TRIUMF, Ruprecht-Karls-Universit\"at Heidelberg, Max Planck Institute, TRIUMF, Westf\"alische Wilhelms-Universit\"at, TRIUMF, Johannes Gutenberg-Universit\"at Mainz, Ruprecht-Karls-Universit\"at Heidelberg, Univerity of Manitoba, TRIUMF, Simon Fraser University, TRIUMF, TRIUMF \& University of Manitoba, College of William and Mary, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, University of Maryland, University of Manitoba, UBC, Texas A\&M, University of Kentucky, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Guelph, St. Mary's University

  • C. Andreoiu

    University of Washington, Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Department of Physics, McMaster University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford University, IFW-Dresden, Northern Illinois University, University of British Columbia, University of Michigan, Simon Fraser University, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, Washington State University, The University of British Columbia, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Oregon State University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Aixtron Ltd., Cornell University, TRIUMF, Society of Physics Students, Western Washington University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University, University of Portland, Pacific University, University of Idaho, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Emory University, SFU, Arizona State University, Research Centre J\"ulich, University of Victoria, EPM, \'Ecole Polytechnique de Montr\'eal (EPM), Technical U of Denmark, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, Linfield College, Portland State University, University of British Columbia Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Simon Fraser, Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos, McGill University, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CSNSM-IN2P3-CNRS, University of Manitobia, Univ. of British Columbia and TRIUMF, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat and MPI and TRIUMF, Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet, Univ. of Manitoba and TRIUMF, Tenische Universitaet Muenchen and TRIUMF, Simon Fraser Univ. and TRIUMF, University of British Columbia, TRIUMF, Ruprecht-Karls-Universit\"at Heidelberg, Max Planck Institute, TRIUMF, Westf\"alische Wilhelms-Universit\"at, TRIUMF, Johannes Gutenberg-Universit\"at Mainz, Ruprecht-Karls-Universit\"at Heidelberg, Univerity of Manitoba, TRIUMF, Simon Fraser University, TRIUMF, TRIUMF \& University of Manitoba, College of William and Mary, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, University of Maryland, University of Manitoba, UBC, Texas A\&M, University of Kentucky, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Guelph, St. Mary's University

  • C. Andreoiu

    University of Washington, Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Department of Physics, McMaster University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford University, IFW-Dresden, Northern Illinois University, University of British Columbia, University of Michigan, Simon Fraser University, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, Washington State University, The University of British Columbia, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Oregon State University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Aixtron Ltd., Cornell University, TRIUMF, Society of Physics Students, Western Washington University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University, University of Portland, Pacific University, University of Idaho, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Emory University, SFU, Arizona State University, Research Centre J\"ulich, University of Victoria, EPM, \'Ecole Polytechnique de Montr\'eal (EPM), Technical U of Denmark, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, Linfield College, Portland State University, University of British Columbia Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Simon Fraser, Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos, McGill University, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CSNSM-IN2P3-CNRS, University of Manitobia, Univ. of British Columbia and TRIUMF, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat and MPI and TRIUMF, Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet, Univ. of Manitoba and TRIUMF, Tenische Universitaet Muenchen and TRIUMF, Simon Fraser Univ. and TRIUMF, University of British Columbia, TRIUMF, Ruprecht-Karls-Universit\"at Heidelberg, Max Planck Institute, TRIUMF, Westf\"alische Wilhelms-Universit\"at, TRIUMF, Johannes Gutenberg-Universit\"at Mainz, Ruprecht-Karls-Universit\"at Heidelberg, Univerity of Manitoba, TRIUMF, Simon Fraser University, TRIUMF, TRIUMF \& University of Manitoba, College of William and Mary, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, University of Maryland, University of Manitoba, UBC, Texas A\&M, University of Kentucky, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Guelph, St. Mary's University

  • C. Andreoiu

    University of Washington, Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Department of Physics, McMaster University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford University, IFW-Dresden, Northern Illinois University, University of British Columbia, University of Michigan, Simon Fraser University, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, Washington State University, The University of British Columbia, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Oregon State University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Aixtron Ltd., Cornell University, TRIUMF, Society of Physics Students, Western Washington University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University, University of Portland, Pacific University, University of Idaho, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Emory University, SFU, Arizona State University, Research Centre J\"ulich, University of Victoria, EPM, \'Ecole Polytechnique de Montr\'eal (EPM), Technical U of Denmark, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, Linfield College, Portland State University, University of British Columbia Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Simon Fraser, Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos, McGill University, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CSNSM-IN2P3-CNRS, University of Manitobia, Univ. of British Columbia and TRIUMF, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat and MPI and TRIUMF, Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet, Univ. of Manitoba and TRIUMF, Tenische Universitaet Muenchen and TRIUMF, Simon Fraser Univ. and TRIUMF, University of British Columbia, TRIUMF, Ruprecht-Karls-Universit\"at Heidelberg, Max Planck Institute, TRIUMF, Westf\"alische Wilhelms-Universit\"at, TRIUMF, Johannes Gutenberg-Universit\"at Mainz, Ruprecht-Karls-Universit\"at Heidelberg, Univerity of Manitoba, TRIUMF, Simon Fraser University, TRIUMF, TRIUMF \& University of Manitoba, College of William and Mary, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, University of Maryland, University of Manitoba, UBC, Texas A\&M, University of Kentucky, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Guelph, St. Mary's University

  • C. Andreoiu

    University of Washington, Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Centre for Organic Photonics and Electronics, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Dalhousie University, Faculty of Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Department of Physics, McMaster University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford University, IFW-Dresden, Northern Illinois University, University of British Columbia, University of Michigan, Simon Fraser University, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, Washington State University, The University of British Columbia, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Oregon State University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Aixtron Ltd., Cornell University, TRIUMF, Society of Physics Students, Western Washington University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University, University of Portland, Pacific University, University of Idaho, Department of Physics, University of Washington, Emory University, SFU, Arizona State University, Research Centre J\"ulich, University of Victoria, EPM, \'Ecole Polytechnique de Montr\'eal (EPM), Technical U of Denmark, Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Department of Physics, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, Linfield College, Portland State University, University of British Columbia Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Simon Fraser, Los Alamos National Lab, Los Alamos, McGill University, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Cambridge, CSNSM-IN2P3-CNRS, University of Manitobia, Univ. of British Columbia and TRIUMF, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat and MPI and TRIUMF, Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet, Univ. of Manitoba and TRIUMF, Tenische Universitaet Muenchen and TRIUMF, Simon Fraser Univ. and TRIUMF, University of British Columbia, TRIUMF, Ruprecht-Karls-Universit\"at Heidelberg, Max Planck Institute, TRIUMF, Westf\"alische Wilhelms-Universit\"at, TRIUMF, Johannes Gutenberg-Universit\"at Mainz, Ruprecht-Karls-Universit\"at Heidelberg, Univerity of Manitoba, TRIUMF, Simon Fraser University, TRIUMF, TRIUMF \& University of Manitoba, College of William and Mary, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, University of Maryland, University of Manitoba, UBC, Texas A\&M, University of Kentucky, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Guelph, St. Mary's University