Abstract: Nichols

Sarah Nichols ’03 – Stony Brook University

Title: “Chemistry with Lasers: Quantum Control in Molecular Systems”

Femtosecond laser pulses can be shaped in time and frequency to control chemical reactions in molecules. Our group investigates dynamic resonances in the halomethane family of molecules from both experimental and computational perspectives. We use femtosecond pump-probe measurements to characterize molecular wave packet dynamics leading to fragmentation during dissociative ionization and to interpret molecular fragmentation learning control experiments. By combining information from our experiments with simulations of wave packet evolution on calculated potential energy surfaces, we can understand how the control relates to the time-dependent structure of the molecules.