Evolutionary optimization of rotational population transfer

Journal Article · Thu Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.84.033415· OSTI ID:22068734

Rouzee, Arnaud; Vrakking, Marc J. J. ^[1]; Ghafur, Omair; Gijsbertsen, Arjan ^[1]; Vidma, Konstantin; Meijer, Afric; Zande, Wim J. van der; Parker, David ^[2]; Shir, Ofer M; Baeck, Thomas ^[3]

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1. FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics (AMOLF), Science Park 104, NL-1098 XG Amsterdam (Netherlands)
2. Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, NL-6500 GL Nijmegen (Netherlands)
3. Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS), Niels Bohrweg 1, NL-2333 CA Leiden (Netherlands)

We present experimental and numerical studies on control of rotational population transfer of NO(J=1/2) molecules to higher rotational states. We are able to transfer 57% of the population to the J=5/2 state and 46% to J=9/2, in good agreement with quantum mechanical simulations. The optimal pulse shapes are composed of pulse sequences with delays corresponding to the beat frequencies of states on the rotational ladder. The evolutionary algorithm is limited by experimental constraints such as volume averaging and the finite laser intensity used, the latter to circumvent ionization. Without these constraints, near-perfect control (>98%) is possible. In addition, we show that downward control, moving molecules from high to low rotational states, is also possible.

• OSTI ID: 22068734
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 84, Issue 3; Other Information: (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: Syrian Arab Republic; ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALGORITHMS
IONIZATION
LASERS
MOLECULES
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
OPTIMIZATION
POPULATION INVERSION
PULSE SHAPERS
PULSES
QUANTUM MECHANICS
ROTATIONAL STATES
SIMULATION