Femtosecond molecular science

该计划基于超短激光脉冲的三个基本特征：“时间”、“相位控制”和“强度”，并将它们共同应用于超快分子动力学、量子控制、分子强场现象的研究及其应用。七名NSERC支持的研究生将进行这项研究，接受独特的高水平培训。研究和控制化学反应中原子的超快运动是世界范围内的一项努力。而化学是激发态分子中原子和电子的耦合重排。我们的超快方法独特地允许同时观察电子和原子的运动。我们通过使用分子框架3D成像，从“分子视角”跟踪这些动力学来获得最多的信息。波兰尼发展了将过渡态的原子运动与反应结果联系起来的规则。我们的目标是开发类似的“波兰尼规则”的多原子反应。我们开发了动态斯塔克控制（DSC），基于强电场而不是激光脉冲的颜色。在DSC中，激光作为催化剂而不吸收光。我们将DSC扩展到控制多原子反应和分子取向的3D控制，从而实现新的动力学和强大的现场实验。当激光场变得更强时，它们会超过束缚电子的场。在这一领域出现了新的物理学，如高次谐波产生（HHG），导致了阿秒科学。为了产生持久的影响，阿秒科学必须扩展到多原子系统。高次谐波是一个涉及电离、传播和复合的三步电子过程，被描述为一个单电子过程。对于多原子分子，这种观点是值得怀疑的。我们将使用一种新的强场方法来直接观察多原子分子中的驱动多电子电离动力学，并与理论进行比较，通过应用对准控制获得更进一步的细节。我们将超快非线性光学和相位控制应用于活细胞和组织的无标记实时显微镜，使新的成像技术商业化，并开发新的方法，使加拿大研究人员能够研究人类疾病。

This program is based on the three fundamental characteristics of ultrashort laser pulses, 'Time', 'Phase Control', and 'Intensity', and applies them - collectively - to the study of ultrafast molecular dynamics, quantum control, molecular strong field phenomena, and applications. Seven NSERC supported graduate students will carry out this research, receiving unique high level training. There is a world-wide effort to study and control ultrafast atomic motions during chemical reaction. But Chemistry is the coupled rearrangement of both atoms and electrons in excited molecules. Our ultrafast methods uniquely permit simultaneous observation of both electronic and atomic motions. We get the most information by following these dynamics from the "Molecule's Point of View", using molecular frame 3D imaging. Polanyi developed rules relating atomic motions at transition states to outcomes of reactions. We aim to develop analogues of the "Polanyi Rules" for polyatomic reactions. We developed Dynamic Stark Control (DSC), based on the strong electric field rather than the colours of a laser pulse. In DSC, the laser acts as a catalyst without absorption of light. We will extend DSC to control polyatomic reactions and to 3D control of molecular orientation, enabling new classes of dynamics and strong field experiments. As laser fields become stronger still, they exceed the fields which bind electrons. In this regime new physics such as High Harmonic Generation (HHG) emerges, leading to Attosecond Science. To be of lasting impact, Attosecond Science must be extended to polyatomic systems. HHG, a 3 step electronic process involving ionization, propagation and recombination, is pictured as a single electron process. For polyatomic molecules this view is doubtful. We will use a novel strong field method to directly observe driven multi-electron ionization dynamics in polyatomic molecules and compare with theory, with still further details obtained by applying alignment control. We apply ultrafast non-linear optics and phase control to the label-free real-time microscopy of live cells and tissues, commercializing new imaging technology and developing new methods empowering Canadian researchers studying human disease.