Photoselective laser control of molecules via molecular vibrations

Photoselective laser control of molecules via molecular vibrations 

The vibrational-rotational spectra of a polyatomic molecule contains information about its main structural properties. Information about the bonds and structures formed by the atoms in the molecule can be extracted from the IR and Raman spectra. Vibration frequencies that characterize a definite bond are nevertheless very sensitive to the rest of the molecular components. This circumstance provides potentially high selectivity in the effect that resonance laser radiation can have on molecular vibrations, as well as the possibility of implementing laser control of molecules via their vibrations. The following tasks have been achieved  

The photoselective laser-induced excitation and dissociation of molecules have been described in detail in a munber of monographs and reviews (Jortner et al. 1981 Letokhov 1983 Bagratashvili et al. 1985f Letokhov 1989 Quack 1998). Therefore, we shall present below only brief information about the progress made in this field. The main schemes for isotope-selective dissociation of molecules via vibrational states are shown in Fig. 11.1. Accordingly, the problem of photoselective laser control of molecules will be considered below in consecutive order, starting with the simplest scheme of Fig. 11.1(a) and ending with that of Fig. 11.1(c). 

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