Laser-induced chemical processes

J. I. Steiafeld, Laser-Induced Chemical Processes, Plenum, New York, 1981. 

Laser Induced Chemical Processes Steinfeld, J. 1., Ed. Plenum New York, 1981. 

J.S. Haggerty. Laser-induced Chemical Processes, J.I. Steinfield, Ed. (Plenum Press, New York, 1981). 

Galbraith, H. W. Ackerhalt, J. R. in "Laser Induced Chemical Processes," ed J. I Steinfeld Plenum Press- New York, to appear. 

We can indeed claim that this is an example of photoselective laser chemistry. The competition between relaxation and reaction of photoex-cited electrons in clusters represented in Fig. 14(b) is reminiscent of the competition in many laser-induced chemical processes, stimulated by the selective absorption of one or more photons, such as photodissociation, photoionization, isomerization, and so forth in polyatomic molecules, where the coupling of many vibrational modes provides energy randomization and relaxation on picosecond time scales. 

The results of a (laser-induced) chemical process or the probing of a reaction are typically monitored via the detection of photons or particles, or both. The... 

In the previous chapter we have seen how tunable lasers can be used in a multitude of ways to gain basic information on atomic and molecular systems. Thus, the laser has had a considerable impact on basic research, and its utility within the applied spectroscopic field is not smaller. We shall here discuss some applications of considerable interest. Previously, we have mainly chosen atomic spectroscopic examples rather than molecular ones, but in this chapter we shall mainly discuss applied molecular spectroscopy. First we will describe diagnostics of combustion processes and then discuss atmospheric monitoring by laser techniques. Different aspects of laser-induced fluorescence in liquids and solids will be considered with examples from the environmental, industrial and medical fields. We will also describe laser-induced chemical processes and isotope separation with lasers. Finally, spectroscopic aspects of lasers in medicine will be discussed. Applied aspects of laser spectroscopy have been covered in [10.1,2]. 

Let us emphasize that use is made here of a time-stepped switching of the resonant field that is quite applicable to the problem at hand. In a number of cases, the main features of the switching of the field are of importance, specifically in the case of the optimal shape of the laser pulse for the coherent control of femtosecond laser-induced chemical processes (Chapter 12). 

In photoionization or photoexcitation processes, photon radiation is absorbed by a molecule to the extent that ionization or excitation occurs. This process is important in laser-induced chemical processing. 

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