Controlling reactions, alignment, and deposition of cold molecules by external electric fields with the use of superfluid helium nanodroplets

在这个项目中，由化学系的化学结构，动力学和机制计划资助，来自南加州大学的Vitaly Kresin教授的小组将介绍一种通过施加外场来操纵极冷极性分子的取向，反应，自组装和表面沉积的方法。 这将通过将分子嵌入光束中的超流氦纳米滴来实现。 液滴将分子冷却到亚开尔文温度，而不会阻碍它们自由迁移和旋转的能力。 外加电场将产生几乎完全的分子排列。 这种探索和控制量子现象的新途径将应用于以下领域：（i）通过对反应物施加相互取向来控制分子反应和组装的结果;（ii）通过掺杂有极性分子的液滴的静电偏转来选择纳米液滴尺寸。 (iii)通过在衬底附近施加定向电场实现极性分子的软着陆。在更广泛的影响方面，冷和超冷极性分子组装，相互作用和反应的量子级控制已经吸引了重要的跨学科兴趣，因为它们对量子计算，新型凝聚相，分子干涉测量和基本对称性研究的潜在价值。沉积技术的潜在应用包括生产定向薄膜和阵列，增强光学传感等在人力资源方面，该项目将为研究生提供广泛的实验和理论方面的一个固有的跨学科领域的优秀培训。 博士后研究人员将获得专业指导。 对教学和推广的承诺包括正在进行的积极的本科生参与研究，以及对本科生，小学和高中学生的计划和研讨会的贡献。

In this project, funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanisms Program of the Division of Chemistry, Prof. Vitaly Kresin's group from the University of Southern California will introduce an approach for manipulating the orientation, reactions, self-assembly, and surface deposition of very cold polar molecules by the application of an external field. This will be achieved by embedding the molecules into superfluid helium nanodroplets in a beam. The droplets cool the molecules to sub-Kelvin temperatures without impeding their ability to migrate and rotate freely. An externally imposed electric field will produce nearly complete molecular alignment. This novel route to explore and control quantum phenomena will be applied to the following areas: (i) Steering the outcome of molecular reactions and assembly via imposing a mutual orientation on the reactants; (ii) Nanodroplet size selection via electrostatic deflection of droplets doped with polar molecules. (iii) Soft-landing of aligned polar molecules via application of a directed electric field near a substrate. In terms of broader impacts, quantum-level control of cold and ultracold polar molecule assembly, interactions and reactions has attracted significant interdisciplinary interest in view of their potential value for quantum computing, novel condensate phases, molecular interferometry, and investigations of fundamental symmetries. Potential applications of the deposition technique include production of oriented films and arrays, enhanced optical sensing, etc. On the human resources side, the project will offer graduate students excellent training in a wide range of experimental and theoretical aspects of an inherently interdisciplinary field. Postdoctoral researchers will receive professional mentoring. Commitment to teaching and outreach includes ongoing active undergraduate student involvement in research, as well as contributions to programs and workshops for undergraduate, elementary-school, and high-school students.