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arXiv · 0903.5413

Quantum-state selection, alignment, and orientation of large molecules using static electric and laser fields

Frank Filsinger·Jochen Küpper·Gerard Meijer·Lotte Holmegaard·Jens H. Nielsen·Iftach Nevo·Jonas L. Hansen·Henrik Stapelfeldt
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Abstract

Supersonic beams of polar molecules are deflected using inhomogeneous electric fields. The quantum-state selectivity of the deflection is used to spatially separate molecules according to their quantum state. A detailed analysis of the deflection and the obtained quantum-state selection is presented. The rotational temperatures of the molecular beams are determined from the spatial beam profiles and are all approximately 1 K. Unprecedented degrees of laser-induced alignment $(<\cos^2θ_{2D}>=0.972)$ and orientation of iodobenzene molecules are demonstrated when the state-selected samples are used. Such state-selected and oriented molecules provide unique possibilities for many novel experiments in chemistry and physics.

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Frank Filsinger, Jochen Küpper, Gerard Meijer, Lotte Holmegaard, Jens H. Nielsen, Iftach Nevo, Jonas L. Hansen, Henrik Stapelfeldt. 2009-09-14. Quantum-state selection, alignment, and orientation of large molecules using static electric and laser fields. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3194287

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