Quantum Zeno-based control mechanism for molecular fragmentation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum control method based on the quantum Zeno effect to manipulate molecular fragmentation, demonstrating that vibrational dissociation can be slowed while electronic dissociation is enhanced, with potential experimental validation.

Contribution

It presents a novel quantum Zeno-based control mechanism for molecular fragmentation, supported by detailed wave packet simulations and analysis of measurement models.

Findings

Vibrational predissociation is significantly slowed.

Electronic predissociation is greatly enhanced.

Theoretical predictions suggest feasible experimental verification.

Abstract

A quantum control mechanism is proposed for molecular fragmentation processes within a scenario grounded on the quantum Zeno effect. In particular, we focus on the van der Waals Ne-Br$_2$ complex, which displays two competing dissociation channels via vibrational and electronic predissociation. Accordingly, realistic three dimensional wave packet simulations are carried out by using ab initio interaction potentials recently obtained to reproduce available experimental data. Two numerical models to simulate the repeated measurements are reported and analyzed. It is found that the otherwise fast vibrational predissociation is slowed down in favor of the slow electronic (double fragmentation) predissociation, which is enhanced by several orders of magnitude. Based on these theoretical predictions, some hints to experimentalists to confirm their validity are also proposed.