External constraints on optimal control strategies in molecular orientation and photofragmentation: Role of zero-area fields

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new optimal control algorithm that enforces zero-area constraints on control fields, improving molecular orientation and photodissociation processes by minimizing pulse area while achieving target states.

Contribution

It presents a novel formulation of control algorithms incorporating zero-area constraints via Lagrange multipliers, enhancing control precision in molecular dynamics.

Findings

Effective control of molecular orientation and photodissociation

Reduced pulse area in control fields

Maintained target state proximity

Abstract

We propose a new formulation of optimal and local control algorithms which enforces the constraint of time-integrated zero-area on the control field. The fulfillment of this requirement, crucial in many physical applications, is mathematically implemented by the introduction of a Lagrange multiplier aiming at penalizing the pulse area. This method allows to design a control field with an area as small as possible, while bringing the dynamical system close to the target state. We test the efficiency of this approach on two control purposes in molecular dynamics, namely, orientation and photodissociation.