AMO seminar  (note time and place)

Title: Molecular SuperRotors: Controlled spinning and unique properties of molecules in extreme rotational states

Speaker: Valery Milner, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Canada

Time: Monday Mar 23, 15:15
Duration: 45 minutes
Place: 1520-732
Coffee, tea and cake will be served at 15:01

Abstract

It has been speculated that extremely fast rotating molecules, known as “superrotors”, may exhibit a number of unique properties, from rotation-induced nano-scale magnetism to formation of macroscopic gas vortices. In that regard, orchestrating molecular spinning in a broad range of angular frequencies is very appealing from the perspectives of controlling molecular dynamics. Yet in sharp contrast to an optical excitation of molecular vibration, laser control of molecular rotation is rather challenging. In this talk, I will report on our recent progress in generating and controlling molecular superrotors [1] (e.g. oxygen molecules occupying ultrahigh rotational states, J > 120) with a specially designed intense laser pulses, known as an “optical centrifuge”. I will discuss the results of our study of collisional [2], optical [3] and magnetic [4] properties of molecular superrotors, as well as our recent observation of the molecular cogwheel states [5].

1. Korobenko, A., A.A. Milner, and V. Milner, Direct Observation, Study, and Control of Molecular Superrotors. Physical Review Letters, 2014. 112(11): p. 113004.

2. Milner, A.A., et al., Effects of Ultrafast Molecular Rotation on Collisional Decoherence. Physical Review Letters, 2014. 113(4): p. 043005.

3. Milner, A.A., A. Korobenko, and V. Milner, Coherent spin–rotational dynamics of oxygen superrotors. New Journal of Physics, 2014. 16(9): p. 093038.

4. Milner, A.A., et al., Magneto-optical properties of paramagnetic superrotors. submitted, arxiv:1410.4257, 2014.

5. Korobenko, A., J.W. Hepburn, and V. Milner, Observation of nondispersing classical-like molecular rotation. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2015. 17(2): p. 951-956.