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Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation

Direct Imaging of Laser-driven Ultrafast Molecular Rotation

Published on: February 4, 2017

Experimental Observation of Dynamical Localization in Laser-Kicked Molecular Rotors.

M Bitter¹, V Milner¹

¹Department of Physics & Astronomy and The Laboratory for Advanced Spectroscopy and Imaging Research (LASIR), The University of British Columbia, V6T 1Z1 Vancouver, Canada.

Physical Review Letters

|October 15, 2016

Summary

Researchers observed dynamical localization in quantum rotors, similar to electron behavior in solids. This quantum effect suppresses rotational energy growth, but noise disrupts it.

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Area of Science:

Quantum dynamics
Molecular physics
Condensed matter theory

Background:

The periodically kicked rotor model explores quantum effects on chaotic dynamics.
Quantum rotor wave functions exhibit localization in angular momentum space, analogous to Anderson localization in disordered solids.

Purpose of the Study:

To experimentally observe dynamical localization in a system of true quantum rotors.
To investigate the characteristics and dependencies of this quantum phenomenon.

Main Methods:

Subjecting nitrogen molecules to periodic sequences of femtosecond laser pulses.
Utilizing coherent Raman scattering to directly measure molecular angular momentum distribution.
Analyzing the suppressed rotational energy growth and localization length dependence on kick strength.

Main Results:

Direct observation of dynamical localization in quantum rotors, evidenced by an exponential angular momentum distribution.
Demonstration of suppressed rotational energy growth with an increasing number of laser kicks.
Confirmation that timing and amplitude noise destroy localization, reviving diffusive energy growth.

Conclusions:

Dynamical localization is experimentally verified in quantum rotors.
The quantum coherent nature of localization is sensitive to noise.
This system serves as a model for quantum localization phenomena beyond disordered solids.