Analysis and control of ultrafast photoinduced reactions

Viac o knihe

Dynamical processes in molecules, such as bond shaking, breaking, or making, occur on timescales from the pico- to femtosecond range. The emergence of fast laser sources and real-time observation techniques like pump-probe spectroscopy has enabled direct insights into these processes initiated by light. Concurrently, advanced computational methods have bridged theoretical descriptions and experimental observations of ultrafast dynamics. This convergence has led to the idea of not only analyzing but also controlling molecular dynamics in real time through specially designed light fields. Inspired by theoretical concepts for influencing molecular wave packets with simple electromagnetic field sequences, experiments have progressed toward the practical realization of arbitrarily shaped laser pulses. This advancement allows for active feedback control of complex systems, enabling the determination of chemical reaction outcomes and retrieval of specific information about chosen dynamical pathways. The book illustrates this vital research field by covering a wide range of molecular systems with increasing complexity while showcasing the integration of experimental and theoretical approaches. After an introductory chapter, the text explores small isolated molecules in gas phase, moves to more complex systems in vacuum, and culminates in discussions of small molecules in rare gas matrices as prototypes for condensed phase dynamics.