Atomic and molecular manipulation in pulsed optical fields

William D. Phillips

J. Karzcmareck, P. B. Corkum, Misha Ivanov

Summary form only given. Optical manipulation of atoms is a well-developed and established field. Its successful use of resonant processes is difficult to mimic for molecules due to the complexity of the molecular energy spectra. However, intense non-resonant fields can provide forces similar to or even stronger than the resonant weak fields used in atom optics. These forces, long utilized in the manipulation of microscopic particles, were recently demonstrated for molecules in optical deflection and trapping experiments. We propose to use strong infrared laser field to create an "optical twister" a field that would exert very large optical torques on anisotropic molecules, leading to a controlled molecular rotation induced with a simple pulse. Molecular dissociation via rotations is used to demonstrate our method. The scheme distinguishes molecules with different moments of inertia, and thus acts as an optical centrifuge.

Johannes K. Krondorfer, Matthias Diez, Andreas W Hauser

Abstract Optical nuclear electric resonance (ONER), a recently proposed protocol for nuclear spin manipulation in atomic systems via short laser pulses with MHz repetition rate, exploits the coupling between the nuclear quadrupole moment of a suitable atom and the periodic modulations of the electric field gradient generated by an optically stimulated electronic excitation. In this theory paper, we extend the scope of ONER from atomic to molecular systems and show that molecular vibrations do not interfere with our protocol. Exploring the diatomic molecule LiNa as a first benchmark system, our investigation showcases the robustness with respect to molecular vibration, and the ability to address and manipulate each of the two nuclear spins independently, simply by adjusting the repetition rate of a pulsed laser. Our findings suggest that it might be possible to shift complicated spin manipulation tasks required for quantum computing into the time domain by pulse-duration encoded laser signals.

M. Babiker, Davıd L. Andrews

Paul Jansen, Frédéric Merkt

We review methods to manipulate the motion of pulsed supersonic atomic and molecular beams using time-independent and -dependent inhomogeneous magnetic fields. In addition, we discuss current and possible future applications and research directions.

Christopher P. Search, Pierre Meystre