Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters
Published on: January 9, 2014
Dimensional scaling treatment of stability of simple diatomic molecules induced by superintense, high-frequency laser
Qi Wei1, Sabre Kais, Dudley Herschbach
1Department of Chemistry and Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
Abstract:
We present results obtained using dimensional scaling with high-frequency Floquet theory to evaluate the stability of gas phase simple diatomic molecules in superintense laser fields. The large-D limit provides a simple model that captures the main physics of the problem, which imposes electron localization along the polarization direction of the laser field. This localization markedly reduces the ionization probability and can enhance chemical bonding when the laser strength becomes sufficiently strong. We find that energy and structure calculations at the large-dimensional limit (D-->infinity) for stabilities of H(2) (+), H(2), and He(2) in superintense laser fields are much simpler than at D=3, yet yield similar results to those found from demanding ab initio calculations. We also use the large-D model to predict the stability of H(2) (-) and the field strength needed to bind the "extra" electron to the H(2) molecule.
Related Concept Videos
IR Spectroscopy: Hooke's Law Approximation of Molecular Vibration
According to Hooke's law, the vibrational frequency is directly proportional to the...
Molecular Orbital Theory II
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Scaling
Molecular Orbital Theory I

