Polarization Quantum Beat Spectroscopy in Diatomic Molecules

在这个科学项目中，研究原子和分子之间碰撞的能量转移过程。这些过程起着重要的作用，是必不可少的燃烧动力学，天体物理等离子体和等离子体形成的理解。结果可以作为基准来验证过程的理论模型。理论模型本身是有用的，因为它们可以方便地应用于实验研究更困难或更昂贵的物理系统。 原子和分子之间的碰撞所产生的能量转移量将通过使用两个激光器来研究。首先，分子量子态的内部性质将被激光束操纵。然后这些分子就像振动的小提琴弦一样振荡，碰撞可以改变它们的量子特性。第二个探测激光器将在一段时间延迟后到达系统，并感测这种变化。通过改变两个激光器之间的延迟时间短至10皮秒，可以绘制出分子性质的时间演化，类似于频闪仪绘制宏观物体运动的方式。 这些研究可以提供特殊的光谱精度和各种传输过程的理解。该项目提供了对燃烧和等离子体形成中重要的能量传输过程的理解。 它还具有重要的社会教育意义。该项目将研究内容整合到迈阿密大学的课程工作中，同时为学生提供最先进技术的动手实验室经验。对本科生和研究生的广泛研究培训和指导有助于未来进入科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域的专业人士。

In this scientific project, energy transfer processes in collisions between atoms and molecules are investigated. These processes play an important role and are essential to the understanding of combustion dynamics, astrophysical plasmas and plasma formation. The results can serve as bench marks with which to verify theoretical models of the processes. Theoretical models are themselves useful because they may be then conveniently applied to physical systems that are more difficult or more expensive to study experimentally. The amount of energy transfer arising from collisions between atoms and molecules will be studied by using two lasers. First, the internal properties of the quantum states of molecules will be manipulated by a laser beam. These molecules then oscillate like vibrating violin strings and collisions can alter their quantum properties. A second probe laser will arrive at the system after some time delay and sense this alteration. By varying the delay time between the two lasers as short as 10 picoseconds, time evolution of the molecular properties can be mapped out, similar to the way a stroboscope maps out the motion of macroscopic objects. These studies can provide exceptional spectroscopic precision and understanding of the various transfer processes.This project provides understanding of energy transfer processes that are important in combustion and plasma formation. It has an essential and socially important educational aspect as well. This project integrates research components into course work at Miami University while providing students with hands-on laboratory experience with state-of-the-art technology. The extensive research training and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students contribute to the future professionals entering science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.