- Closed-loop learning control of isomerization using shaped ultrafast laser pulses in the deep ultraviolet.
Closed-loop learning control of isomerization using shaped ultrafast laser pulses in the deep ultraviolet.
The Journal of chemical physics (2009-04-10)
Marija Kotur, Thomas Weinacht, Brett J Pearson, Spiridoula Matsika
PMID19355736
ABSTRACT
We demonstrate the use of shaped ultrafast laser pulses in the deep ultraviolet to control the ring opening isomerization of 1,3-cyclohexadiene to form 1,3,5-hexatriene. The experiments are performed with a gas phase sample and the isomerization yield is probed with dissociative ionization driven by a time-delayed, intense infrared laser pulse. Differences in the electronic structure of the ions for the two isomers, as shown by ab initio calculations, result in very different fragmentation products following strong-field ionization. We find that a shaped pulse yields a approximately 37% increase in the isomerization over an unshaped laser pulse.