Speaker: Hirofumi Sakai, Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo

Title: Laser-field-free alignment and orientation of state-selected asymmetric top molecules

Abstract: With combined electrostatic and shaped laser fields with a slow turn on and rapid turn off, laser-field-free orientation of state-selected asymmetric top molecules with higher degrees of orientation has been achieved (left figure).  It is confirmed that higher degrees of orientation is maintained in the laser-field-free condition for 5-10 ps (center figure).  The observation of slow dephasing of molecular orientation ensures that we will be able to achieve laser-field-free three-dimensional orientation of state-selected asymmetric top molecules with elliptical polarization instead of linear polarization (right figure).  These techniques will be very useful to various applications.

Host: Henrik Stapelfeldt, Department of Chemistry