Quantum State Control of Molecular Collision Dynamics
Abstract
Manipulating and controlling the outcome of chemical reactions has long been a cherished goal of chemists. This goal is now within reach. Here this control refers to the initial preparation of molecules, their interaction, and the subsequent detection of products in desired final quantum states. One major obstacle to achieving this goal is the thermal population of a range of internal states making initial quantum state preparation very challenging. However, recent breakthroughs have enabled the preparation of molecules in a single quantum state and allowed explicit control over their motional and orientational degrees of freedom. In this project, a MURI Team consisting of researchers from Stanford, Harvard and the Universities of Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico, and Nevada, will pursue several avenues with the goal: to achieve fully quantum controlled molecular collisions. This work will draw on experimental and theoretical developments pioneered by the team members in both Chemistry and Physics. Specifically, the Team will pursue new coherent state preparation methods using lasers and molecular beams to generate molecules in perfectly-defined vibrationally excited initial states, then use these uniquely prepared reactants in novel scattering experiments. At the same time, state-of-the-art theoretical investigations of the interatomic forces and of the quantum scattering processes will be used to understand, model and interpret the experimental results. The effort will probe new aspects of molecular interactions and chemical reactivity under highly controlled conditions. New techniques for manipulation and control of molecules will be developed, new probe strategies for detecting reaction products in particular quantum states will be pursued, and chemical dynamics studied in a realm controlled by resonances and mapped by coherent transformation. This project builds the foundation for a comprehensive understanding of chemical behavior that will enable future advances in areas such as reaction dynamics of energetic materials, quantum information and cryptography, novel materials, energy storage and communication and navigation technologies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 22, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910283
Entities
People
- Arthur G. Suits
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Missouri