Related papers: Molecular alignment using circularly polarized las…
In recent years it became possible to align molecules in free space using ultrashort laser pulses. Here we explore two schemes for controlling molecule-surface scattering process, which are based on the laser-induced molecular alignment. In…
We theoretically consider the phenomenon of field-free long-lasting orientation of symmetric-top molecules ionized by two-color laser pulses. The anisotropic ionization produces a significant long-lasting orientation of the surviving…
A strong inhomogeneous static electric field is used to spatially disperse a supersonic beam of polar molecules, according to their quantum state. We show that the molecules residing in the lowest-lying rotational states can be selected and…
We analyze the alignment of molecules generated by a pair of crossed ultra-short pump pulses of different polarizations by a technique based on the induced time-dependent gratings. Parallel polarizations yield an intensity grating, while…
We present theoretical calculations for polarization and ellipticity of high-order harmonics from aligned N$_2$, CO$_2$, and O$_2$ molecules generated by linearly polarized lasers. Within the rescattering model, the two polarization…
We study numerically the interaction between an intense circularly polarized laser field and an electron moving in a potential which has a discrete cylindrical symmetry with respect to the laser pulse propagation direction. This setup…
We consider deflection of polarizable molecules by inhomogeneous optical fields, and analyze the role of molecular orientation and rotation in the scattering process. It is shown that molecular rotation induces spectacular rainbow-like…
Fixing molecules in space is a crucial step for the imaging of molecular structure and dynamics. Here, we demonstrate three-dimensional (3D) field-free alignment of the prototypical asymmetric top molecule indole using elliptically…
We consider the use of pulse-shaped broadband femtosecond lasers to optically cool rotational and vibrational degrees of freedom of molecules. Since this approach relies on cooling rotational and vibrational quanta by exciting an electronic…
Ultrafast laser pulses provide unique tools to manipulate magnetization dynamics at femtosecond timescales, where the interaction of the electric field -- such as excitation of spin carriers to non-equilibrium states, generation of…
We have experimentally and theoretically investigated the mixed-field orientation of rotational-state-selected OCS molecules and we achieve strong degrees of alignment and orientation. The applied moderately intense nanosecond laser pulses…
We consider optical properties of a gas of molecules that are brought to fast unidirectional spinning by a pulsed laser field. It is shown that a circularly polarized probe light passing through the medium inverts its polarization…
A moderately intense $450$ fs laser pulse is used to create rotational wave packets in gas phase $\rm{I_2}$ molecules. The ensuing time-dependent alignment, measured by Coulomb explosion imaging with a delayed probe pulse, exhibits the…
We investigate to which extend a THz laser pulse can be used to produce field-free molecular orientation at high temperature. We consider laser pulses that can be implemented with the state of the art technology and we show that the…
We report the observation of macroscopic field-free orientation, i.e. more than 73 % of CO molecules pointing in the same direction. This is achieved through an all-optical scheme operating at high particle densities ($>10^{17}$cm$^{-3}$)…
We theoretically analyze the effectiveness of multiple-pulse laser alignment methods for asymmetric-top molecules. As an example, we choose SO_2 and investigate the alignment dynamics induced by two different sequences, each consisting of…
Molecular chirality is an omnipresent phenomenon of fundamental significance in physics, chemistry and biology. For this reason, search for novel techniques for enantioselective control, detection and separation of chiral molecules is of…
Present photoionization experiments cannot measure molecular frame photoelectron angular distributions (MFPAD) from the outermost valence electrons of molecules. We show that details of the MFPAD can be retrieved with high-order harmonics…
We demonstrate that the THz generation in air from a dual-color pulse, composed of the fundamental and second-harmonic waves, can be coherently controlled by field-free molecular alignment. By tuning its time delay to properly match various…
We present a combined experimental and theoretical study on strong-field ionization of a three-dimensionally oriented asymmetric top molecule, benzonitrile (C$_7$H$_5$N), by circularly polarized, nonresonant femtosecond laser pulses. Prior…