Probe and control of Rydberg wave packets in atoms and molecules

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Highly excited (high principle quantum number) Rydberg atoms and molecules, which are considered as a bridge between classical and quantum world due to their mesoscopic dimensions, can play a key role in quantum information processing. Although the properties of Rydberg atoms and molecules have been extensively investigated, the dynamics of Rydberg wave packets, e.g., the population and decay of autoionizing states, have not been fully understood. In the proposed work entitled "Probe and control of Rydberg wave packets in atoms and molecules", I will develop a novel pump-probe experiment by combining ultrashort laser pulses with a reaction microscope to resolve the dynamics of electronic wave packets emitted from the Rydberg atoms and molecules. In the last part of the proposed work, a new Terahertz (THz) pulse generation setup will be built, and will be used for significantly improving the pump-probe experiment as the THz pulses act on the same time scale as the Rydberg wave packet dynamics. My work will contribute to the understanding of the highly excited states of atoms and molecules, which are always produced in intense laser pulses, and have been largely ignored until recently. These insights pave the way towards new remote sensing techniques and contribute to the development of quantum control of chemical reactions. The proposed work will also have positive impact on my scientific skills in my research field and serve the goal of transferring advanced techniques to Germany. Last but not least, the new scientific achievements will contribute to the prosperous development of European Leadership in the field of strong-field laser physics.