Scattering of adiabatically aligned molecules by non-resonant optical standing waves

A research team, affiliated with South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has discovered that when the rotational quantum states of non-polar molecules change under the influence of laser fields (non-resonant laser fields), so does their motion trajectories.

Baseball pitchers throw a variety of pitches, each of which has a slightly different trajectory. This is because each pitch type depends on the degree of interaction with the air flowing around the ball. A recent study, affiliated UNIST has unveiled that even small invisible molecules have different motion trajectories for each rotational state when interacting with the laser.

A research team, led by Professor Bum Suk Zhao in the School of Natural Science at UNIST has discovered that when the rotational quantum states of non-polar molecules change under the influence of laser fields (non-resonant laser fields), so does their motion trajectories. Like baseball pitching, the alignment degree of molecules varies according to the rotational quantum states, which brings significant changes to the trajectories of molecules.

Molecules rotate freely in each rotational quantum state when there is no laser field present. However, when those initially freely rotating molecules interact with a laser field, a change occurs. Thus, in the presence of a laser field, even a non-polar molecule experiences induced dipole moment, and such degree varies depending on the rotational quantum state. These molecules are aligned in a specific direction (the laser polarization direction) and at the same time, the translational motions (forward movement) of molecules change by interacting with the laser field.

Like this, the degree of polarity induced by an external electric field is known as, polarization rate. This is not only related to the alignment degree of molecules, but also the rotational quantum state. The alignment degree of molecules varies depending on the intensity of laser fields. However, in the interpretation of previously reported experimental results, the effect of rotational state–dependent molecular alignment in the scattering of molecules was neglected.

In the study, the research team accurately explained the motion trajectories of molecules, considering the alignment effect. Through scattering experiments, the research team demonstrated the effect of state-dependent alignment on the scattering of CS2 (carbon disulfide) molecules by an optical standing wave formed by two counter-propagating pulsed infrared (IR) laser beams of identical properties. The results were analyzed through trajectory simulations, considering the alignment effect. According to their analysis, considering the alignment effect, the velocity changes in the transverse direction were well explained.

"In the paper, published in Physical Review Letters in 2015, there was something that could not be explained by the "polarization rate that varies with each rotational quantum state," says Lee Young Kim (Combined M.S/Ph.D. of Physics, UNIST), as the first author of the study. "This time, through an accurate assessment of polarization rate, taking into account the alignment effect, it was possible to successfully interpret the scattering experiments."

"The accurate investigation of the scattering of aligned molecules through laser fields can be the cornerstone of controlling translational molecular motions, as well as for the development of technology that can separate non-polar molecules according to their rotational state," says Professor Zhao. "This study will serve as the basis for further research, such as separation of isomers distributed in different quantum states, as well as for the investigation of reaction dynamics."

The findings of this research have been published in Science Advances.