Laser control of the fragmentation dynamics of molecular clusters - numerical simulation of pump-probe experiments

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Project objective

Research objectives and content: The advent of ultrashort laser pulses in the last decade has allowed the possibility of determining and controlling ultrafast chemical reactions using lasers. Recent experiments using femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy have managed to follow the dynamics of the competing processes of photo-ionization and photo-dissociative ionization of sodium iodide. The experiments used both isolated (gas phase) NaI and NaI in a cluster, solvated with a varying number of molecules of acetonitrile. The results show a very strong dependence on the number of molecules of solvent. Recent theoretical calculations can reproduce the experimental results for the isolated NaI, but industrially relevant reactions are likely to use solvated reactants. The first objective of this proposal is to combine methods developed to model the dynamics of the fragmentation process with those developed to study molecular clusters, in order to explain fully the experimental results for the solvated NaI. The second objective is to model a mechanism through which a series of laser pulses can be used to control the branching ratios of the fragmentation. As a prototypical system, this research will reveal valuable insights into the control of other chemical reactions. Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact) This project provides the perfect opportunity to widen the knowledge I have gained through my studies of electron scattering from molecules into many areas of molecular dynamics. In particular, it would give me experience in two new and exciting fields, molecular clusters and laser control of chemical reactions. On the technical side, it would provide rigorous training in quantum chemistry computation and a multitude of numerical methods. Links with industry / industrial relevance (22)

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE · PARISCoordinatorFrance

Links

• View on CORDIS