Quantum-state selection, alignment, and orientation of large molecules using static electric and laser fields

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how inhomogeneous electric fields and laser pulses can be used to select, align, and orient large polar molecules in specific quantum states, enabling advanced experiments in physics and chemistry.

Contribution

It introduces a method for quantum-state selection and achieves unprecedented laser-induced alignment and orientation of molecules using static electric and laser fields.

Findings

Quantum-state selective deflection of molecules achieved.

Unprecedented laser-induced alignment with <cos^2θ_{2D}> = 0.972.

State-selected molecules enable new experimental possibilities.

Abstract

Supersonic beams of polar molecules are deflected using inhomogeneous electric fields. The quantum-state selectivity of the deflection is used to spatially separate molecules according to their quantum state. A detailed analysis of the deflection and the obtained quantum-state selection is presented. The rotational temperatures of the molecular beams are determined from the spatial beam profiles and are all approximately 1 K. Unprecedented degrees of laser-induced alignment $(<\cos^2\theta_{2D}>=0.972)$ and orientation of iodobenzene molecules are demonstrated when the state-selected samples are used. Such state-selected and oriented molecules provide unique possibilities for many novel experiments in chemistry and physics.