Femtosecond spectroscopy of molecules and clusters
- Physikalisches Institut der Universitaet, Wuerzburg (Germany)
In the molecular physics section of this report we first discuss the evolution of a vibrational wavepacket in a double minimum potential well. Second, we will focus on the dynamics of multiphoton ionization (MPI) in a diatomic, and we will see how the unexpected results give new input into the challenging field of controlling chemical reactions by means of time-resolved laser techniques. As high laser intensities are achieved in focused ultrashort light pulses, their interaction with molecules is of particular interest and will be treated next. For all these experiments we have chosen the Na{sub 2} molecule as a model system, as there is a wealth of spectroscopic and theoretical information available, which facilitates the interpretation of the time domain results considerably. In the cluster section of this chapter we report the first experiments in cluster physics employing ultrashort laser pulses to time-resolved studies of cluster ionization and fragmentation processes. Clusters and in particular metal clusters have been the fascinating subject of many experimental and theoretical studies. Clusters form the link between solid-state physics and molecular physics. Metal clusters exhibit distinct features ranging from molecular properties seen in small particles to the solid state like behavior of larger aggregates. Studies of cluster properties like geometric structures, the evolution of the electronic states from localized to delocalized in nature, and the real-time dynamics of ionization and fragmentation have not yet been performed in detail as a function of cluster size.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 443539
- Journal Information:
- Advances in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, Vol. 35; Other Information: PBD: 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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