Modifying molecular scattering from rough solid surfaces using ultrashort laser pulses

TL;DR

This paper explores how ultrashort laser pulses can modify molecular rotational states before surface scattering, enabling control over scattering angles and potential separation of molecular mixtures like isotopes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to manipulate molecular scattering by laser-induced rotational control, offering new possibilities for molecular separation techniques.

Findings

Laser pulses induce field-free molecular alignment.

Alignment correlates with scattering angles and rotation sense.

Controlled rotation influences molecular separation processes.

Abstract

We consider solid surface scattering of molecules that were subject to strong non-resonant ultrashort laser pulses just before hitting the surface. The pulses modify the rotational states of the molecules, causing their field free alignment, or a rotation with a preferred sense. We show that field-free laser-induced molecular alignment leads to correlations between the scattering angle and the sense of rotation of the scattered molecules. Moreover, by controlling the sense of laser induced unidirectional molecular rotation, one may affect the scattering angle of the molecules. This provides a new means for separation of mixtures of molecules (such as isotopes and nuclear-spin isomers) by laser controlled surface scattering.