Coherent control laboratory experiment

At the present time, there is a fair understanding about the initiation of RPTs in various systems, but in some instances, particularly for metal-water accidents, the theory is poorly developed and untested in controlled laboratory experiments. The area of escalation of a small-scale RPT to a large, coherent explosion has been developed into a logical picture, but again proof tests on a large scale are not available. 

In order to achieve coherent control in a laboratory experiment, three major requirements are to be met. Well-defined final states cannot be reached without the preparation of a well-defined initial state. Ultrashort, spectrally wide and intense laser pulses at different wavelengths must be produced for excitation and a good characterization of the final product states must be achieved. 

The fact that this control scenario does not require laser coherence makes it especially attractive for laboratory use since generally available, non-transform limited, nsec dye lasers can be used. In our experiment we use two dye lasers pumped by a frequency-doubled Nd-Yag laser. One dye laser, whose frequency a>2 was tuned between 13,312 cm- and 13,328 cm-1, was used... 

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