Mesoscopic superposition and sub-Planck-scale structure in molecular wave packets

Journal Article · Sun Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2006 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.73.0· OSTI ID:20786740

Ghosh, Suranjana; Banerji, J; Panigrahi, P K ^[1]; Chiruvelli, Aravind ^[2]

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1. Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad-380 009 (India)
2. University of Massachusetts at Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02125-3393 (United States)

We demonstrate the possibility of realizing sub-Planck-scale structures in the mesoscopic superposition of molecular wave packets involving vibrational levels. The time evolution of the wave packet, taken here as the SU(2) coherent state of the Morse potential describing hydrogen iodide molecules, produces macroscopic-quantum-superposition-like states, responsible for the above phenomenon. We investigate the phase-space dynamics of the coherent state through the Wigner function approach and identify the interference phenomena behind the sub-Planck-scale structures. The optimal parameter ranges are specified for observing these features.

• OSTI ID: 20786740
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 73, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.73.013411; (c) 2006 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ANNIHILATION OPERATORS
EIGENSTATES
HYDRIODIC ACID
INTERFERENCE
MOLECULES
MORSE POTENTIAL
PHASE SPACE
SU-2 GROUPS
VIBRATIONAL STATES
WAVE PACKETS
WIGNER DISTRIBUTION