Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation
Published on: February 4, 2017
Excitation, dynamics, and control of rotationally autoionizing Rydberg states of H2
A Kirrander1, H H Fielding, Ch Jungen
1Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
The dynamics of rotationally autoionizing Rydberg states of molecular hydrogen is investigated using a time-dependent extension of multichannel quantum defect theory, in which the time-dependent wave packets are constructed using first-order perturbation theory. An analytical expression for the complex excitation function for a sequence of Gaussian excitation pulses is derived and then employed to investigate the influence of pairs of pulses with well-defined phase differences on the decay dynamics and final-state composition.
Related Concept Videos
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
The Bohr Model
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
Woodward–Hoffmann Selection Rules and Microscopic Reversibility
¹H NMR of Conformationally Flexible Molecules: Temporal Resolution
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Overview

