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The Journal of Chemical Physics

Dissipative quantum coherent dynamics probed in phase-space: Electronically resonant 5-color 4-wave mixing on I2(B) in solid Kr

D. Segale, Vartkess Ara Apkarian

Published Jul 8, 2011• 17 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Spectrally resolved, 4-wave mixing measurements in five resonant colors are used to interrogate vibronic quantum coherences in phase-space. We highlight the principles through measurements on the B-state of I(2) in solid Kr--a prototype of a system strongly coupled to its environment. The measurements consist of preparing a superposition of wavepackets on the B-state and interrogating their cross-coherence as they get entangled with the environment. The study provides direct realizations of fundamental quantum principles in the mechanics of molecular matter, among them: the distinction between quantum and classical coherent dynamics of a system entangled with the environment, coherent dissipation, event-driven decoherence, environment selected coherent states, and non-local mechanics.

DOI
10.1063/1.3598959

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Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics•Jan 1, 2005•52 citations
Spectrally resolved, 4-wave mixing measurements in five resonant colors are used to interrogate vibronic quantum coherences in phase-space. We highlight the principles through measurements on the B-state of I(2) in solid Kr--a prototype of a system strongly coupled to its environment. The measurements consist of preparing a superposition of wavepackets on the B-state and interrogating their cross-coherence as they get entangled with the environment. The study provides direct realizations of fundamental quantum principles in the mechanics of molecular matter, among them: the distinction between quantum and classical coherent dynamics of a system entangled with the environment, coherent dissipation, event-driven decoherence, environment selected coherent states, and non-local mechanics.
Pump-probe, four-wave, and six-wave mixing measurements of I2 isolated in solid argon are used to provide a clear experimental measure for the onset of vibrational quantum decoherence on the excited electronic state. The electronically resonant, six-wave mixing measurements bypass the rapid electronic dephasing, and measure the quantum cross-correlation between two packets launched on the B-state. The vibrational quantum coherence survives one period of motion, 400 fs, during which approximately 2000 cm(-1) of energy is transferred to the lattice. The decoherence occurs during the second cycle of motion, while classically coherent motion measured via pump-probe spectroscopy using the same electronic resonances continues for approximately 15 periods. This is contrasted with vibrational dephasing on the ground electronic surface, which lasts for 10(2) periods, as measured through time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering. The measurements and observables are discussed through time-circuit diagrams, and a mechanistic description of decoherence is derived through semiclassical analysis and simulations that reproduce the experiments.
Time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, with a resolution of 20 fs, is used to prepare a broadband vibrational superposition on the ground electronic state of I2 isolated in solid Kr. The coherent evolution of a packet consisting of nu=1-6 is monitored for as many as 1000 periods, allowing a precise analysis of the material response and radiation coherence. The molecular vibrations are characterized by omega(e)=211.330(2) cm(-1), omega(e)x(e)=0.6523(6) cm(-1), omega(e)y(e)=2.9(1) x 10(-3) cm(-1); the dephasing rates at 32 K range from 110 ps for nu=1 to 34 ps for nu=6, with nu dependence: gamma(nu)=8.5 x 10(-3)+4.9 x 10(-4)nu2+2.1 x 10(-6)nu4 ps(-1). The signal amplitude is also modulated at omega(q)=41.56(3) cm(-1); which can be interpreted as coupling between the molecule and a local mode. The surprising implication is that this resonant local mode is decoupled from the lattice phonons, a finding that cannot be rationalized based on a normal-mode analysis.
Time-resolved, electronically resonant, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering is used to prepare and interrogate vibronic coherences of molecular iodine in matrix Ar. Coherences that involve evolution on the excited B(3Π0u) state, first- and third-order coherences, decay in less than one vibrational period (τ<300 fs). In contrast, as many as 200 vibrational periods of motion can be observed for Raman-prepared wave packets consisting of zero-phonon vibrational superpositions on the ground electronic state (second-order coherence). Packets consisting of v=4, 5 and v=3, 4, 5 on the X(1Σg) state decay with a half-life of 10±1 ps at 31 K, allowing a more accurate measure of vibrational level spacings and decoherence time than has been possible in frequency domain. The harmonic frequency of the molecule is reduced by 1.5 cm−1 (0.7%) in the matrix. The lack of recurrence in the excited electronic state ensures that the resonant anti-Stokes scattering arises only from the negative momentum component of the Raman packet. This momentum filter, which should be ubiquitous in condensed media, leads to a signal with deeper modulation than in the gas phase.
We present the moving picture of a molecular bond, in phase-space, in real-time, at resolution limited by quantum uncertainty. The images are tomographically reconstructed Wigner distribution functions (WDF) obtained from four-wave mixing measurements on Br2-doped ice. The WDF completely characterizes the dissipative quantum evolution of the system, which despite coupling to the environment retains quantum coherence, as evidenced by its persistent negative Wigner hole. The spectral decomposition of the WDF allows a direct visualization of wavefunctions and spatiotemporal coherences of the system and the system-bath interaction. The measurements vividly illustrate nonclassical wave mechanics in a many-body system, in ordinary condensed matter.
Electronic and vibrational coherences of Cl2 embedded in solid Ar are investigated by exciting to the B state with a phase-locked pulse pair from an unbalanced Michelson interferometer, where the chirp difference matches the B state anharmonicity. Recording the A' --> X fluorescence after relaxation is compared to probing to charge transfer states by a third pulse. The three-pulse experiment delivers more details on the decoherence processes. The signal modulation due to phase tuning up to the third vibrational round-trip time indicates that the electronic coherence in the B <-- X transition is preserved for more than 660 fs in the solid Ar environment where many body electronic interactions take place. Vibrational coherence lasts longer than 3 ps according to the observed half revival of the wavepacket. Control of the coupling between wavepacket motion and lattice oscillation is demonstrated by tuning the relative phase between the phase-locked pulses, preparing wavepackets predominantly composed of either zero-phonon lines or phonon side bands.