Generation of the simplest rotational wave packet in a diatomic molecule: Tracing a two-level superposition in the time domain

A. Przystawik; A. Kickermann; A. Al-Shemmary; S. Düsterer; A. M. Ellis; K. Von Haeften; M. Harmand; S. Ramakrishna; H. Redlin; L. Schroedter; M. Schulz; T. Seideman; N. Stojanovic; J. Szekely; F. Tavella; S. Toleikis; T. Laarmann

doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.85.052503

Generation of the simplest rotational wave packet in a diatomic molecule: Tracing a two-level superposition in the time domain

A. Przystawik^*, A. Kickermann, A. Al-Shemmary, S. Düsterer, A. M. Ellis, K. Von Haeften, M. Harmand, S. Ramakrishna, H. Redlin, L. Schroedter, M. Schulz, T. Seideman, N. Stojanovic, J. Szekely, F. Tavella, S. Toleikis, T. Laarmann

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

We introduce a time-domain approach to explore rotational dynamics caused by intramolecular coupling or the interaction with dissipative media. It pushes the time resolution toward the ultimate limit determined by the rotational period. Femtosecond pulses create a coherent superposition of two rotational states of carbon monoxide. The wave-packet motion is observed by subsequent Coulomb explosion, which results in a time-dependent asymmetry of spatial fragmentation patterns. The asymmetry oscillation prevails for at least 1 ns, covering more than 300 periods with no decoherence. Long time scans will allow weak perturbations of the order of ΔE/E=10 ^-4 to be discerned. Our conclusions are confirmed by a fully quantum-mechanical model.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	052503
Journal	Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
Volume	85
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.85.052503
State	Published - May 7 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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10.1103/PhysRevA.85.052503

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Przystawik, A., Kickermann, A., Al-Shemmary, A., Düsterer, S., Ellis, A. M., Von Haeften, K., Harmand, M., Ramakrishna, S., Redlin, H., Schroedter, L., Schulz, M., Seideman, T., Stojanovic, N., Szekely, J., Tavella, F., Toleikis, S., & Laarmann, T. (2012). Generation of the simplest rotational wave packet in a diatomic molecule: Tracing a two-level superposition in the time domain. Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, 85(5), [052503]. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.85.052503

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abstract = "We introduce a time-domain approach to explore rotational dynamics caused by intramolecular coupling or the interaction with dissipative media. It pushes the time resolution toward the ultimate limit determined by the rotational period. Femtosecond pulses create a coherent superposition of two rotational states of carbon monoxide. The wave-packet motion is observed by subsequent Coulomb explosion, which results in a time-dependent asymmetry of spatial fragmentation patterns. The asymmetry oscillation prevails for at least 1 ns, covering more than 300 periods with no decoherence. Long time scans will allow weak perturbations of the order of ΔE/E=10 -4 to be discerned. Our conclusions are confirmed by a fully quantum-mechanical model.",

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Przystawik, A, Kickermann, A, Al-Shemmary, A, Düsterer, S, Ellis, AM, Von Haeften, K, Harmand, M, Ramakrishna, S, Redlin, H, Schroedter, L, Schulz, M, Seideman, T, Stojanovic, N, Szekely, J, Tavella, F, Toleikis, S & Laarmann, T 2012, 'Generation of the simplest rotational wave packet in a diatomic molecule: Tracing a two-level superposition in the time domain', Physical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, vol. 85, no. 5, 052503. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.85.052503

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T1 - Generation of the simplest rotational wave packet in a diatomic molecule

T2 - Tracing a two-level superposition in the time domain

AU - Przystawik, A.

AU - Kickermann, A.

AU - Al-Shemmary, A.

AU - Düsterer, S.

AU - Ellis, A. M.

AU - Von Haeften, K.

AU - Harmand, M.

AU - Ramakrishna, S.

AU - Redlin, H.

AU - Schroedter, L.

AU - Schulz, M.

AU - Seideman, T.

AU - Stojanovic, N.

AU - Szekely, J.

AU - Tavella, F.

AU - Toleikis, S.

AU - Laarmann, T.

PY - 2012/5/7

Y1 - 2012/5/7

N2 - We introduce a time-domain approach to explore rotational dynamics caused by intramolecular coupling or the interaction with dissipative media. It pushes the time resolution toward the ultimate limit determined by the rotational period. Femtosecond pulses create a coherent superposition of two rotational states of carbon monoxide. The wave-packet motion is observed by subsequent Coulomb explosion, which results in a time-dependent asymmetry of spatial fragmentation patterns. The asymmetry oscillation prevails for at least 1 ns, covering more than 300 periods with no decoherence. Long time scans will allow weak perturbations of the order of ΔE/E=10 -4 to be discerned. Our conclusions are confirmed by a fully quantum-mechanical model.

AB - We introduce a time-domain approach to explore rotational dynamics caused by intramolecular coupling or the interaction with dissipative media. It pushes the time resolution toward the ultimate limit determined by the rotational period. Femtosecond pulses create a coherent superposition of two rotational states of carbon monoxide. The wave-packet motion is observed by subsequent Coulomb explosion, which results in a time-dependent asymmetry of spatial fragmentation patterns. The asymmetry oscillation prevails for at least 1 ns, covering more than 300 periods with no decoherence. Long time scans will allow weak perturbations of the order of ΔE/E=10 -4 to be discerned. Our conclusions are confirmed by a fully quantum-mechanical model.

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Generation of the simplest rotational wave packet in a diatomic molecule: Tracing a two-level superposition in the time domain

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