Quantum Control of Resonance Lifetimes in Molecular Photodissociation with Intense Laser Fields

Control of molecular reaction dynamics has been pursued in the last decades. Among these reactions are molecular photodissociation processes governed by resonances. Controlling the lifetime of such resonances imply to control the time duration of the processes. Here, some control schemes that apply moderately intense laser fields are proposed to modify (reducing or increasing) a resonance lifetime. The control strategy applies an intense field as a way to generate a new effective coupling that produces a resonance decay different from the natural one, with a different decay lifetime. In particular, different control schemes are suggested to reduce the lifetime of a long-lived resonance, and to increase the lifetime of a short-lived resonance. A large degree and flexibility of control both in the reduction and in the increase of the resonance lifetime is demonstrated. The experimental applicability of the schemes is discussed. The present schemes thus open the possibility of extensive and universal control of molecular photodissociation processes mediated by resonances.