Düsseldorf 2007 – scientific programme

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SYFM: Symposium Quantenkontrolle funktionaler Moleküle

SYFM 1: Quantum control of functional molecules I

SYFM 1.4: Invited Talk

Wednesday, March 21, 2007, 15:30–16:00, 6C

Quantum control of liquid-phase molecular dynamics and of catalytic surface reactions — •Patrick Nürnberger¹, Daniel Wolpert¹, Horst Weiss², and Gustav Gerber¹ — ¹Physikalisches Institut, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany — ²BASF AG, Polymer Research Division, 67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany

We present two concepts for the selective transfer of one molecular configuration into another one with femtosecond laser pulses. By selective excitation with optimized laser pulses, the photoisomerization efficiency of a molecular system can be controlled. The product yield can also be manipulated by selective de-excitation of an excited molecule with shaped laser pulses.

Furthermore, we demonstrate the formation of molecular bonds with femtosecond laser pulses. Hydrogen and carbon monoxide are streamed onto a palladium surface irradiated with the laser pulses. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer allows the detection of created product molecules. By applying a closed-loop quantum control scheme, we manipulate this formation of molecular bonds and selectively optimize the ratio of different reaction channels with specially adapted laser pulses.