Coherent Control of Molecular Dynamics: Exploring and Understanding Control Mechanisms

该项目结合了物理化学、分子物理学和学习算法开发的研究，重点探索小型多原子分子系统的相干控制。 该项目的具体目标是了解相干振动运动与中性分子解离之间的关系，并探索使用成形超快光脉冲控制激光辅助中性解离中碎片通道的机制。 该项目的关键要素之一是了解控制实验的结果，这些实验利用反馈和学习算法来发现最佳的激光脉冲形状，以引导分子走向所需的反应途径。 从更广泛的意义上来说，这项研究对化学气相沉积 (CVD) 具有重大意义，因为即将开展的研究将提供有潜力成为 CVD 新来源的新技术，以及 CVD 所必需的化学过程的基本信息。 这项工作位于化学和物理学之间的边界，并进一步加深了对量子和经典物理学以及频域和时域的理解。 从事这些项目的学生将学习在跨学科环境中工作，并从不同的角度理解他们的观察结果。 该项目由数学和物理科学理事会的物理和化学部门共同资助。

This project, which combines research in physical chemistry, molecular physics, and learning algorithm development, focuses on the exploration of coherent control of small polyatomic molecular systems. The specific aims of the project are to understand the relationship between coherent vibrational motion and neutral molecular dissociation, and to explore mechanisms for controlling fragmentation channels in laser assisted neutral dissociation using shaped ultrafast optical pulses. One of the key elements of the project is understanding the results of control experiments that make use of feedback and learning algorithms to discover optimal laser pulses shapes for steering a molecule toward a desired reaction pathway. In a broader sense, the research has significant implications for chemical vapor deposition (CVD), as the research to be carried out will provide new techniques with potential as a new source in CVD, together with basic information about chemical processes essential to CVD. The work lies at the boundary between chemistry and physics and furthers understanding in terms of both quantum and classical physics as well as frequency and time domains. Students working on the projects will learn to work in an interdisciplinary environment and understand their observations from a variety of perspectives. This project is co-funded by the Divisions of Physics and Chemistry in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate.