Selection of ionization paths of K2 on superfluid helium droplets by wave packet interference

Abstract

a b s t r a c tWe report on the control of wave packet dynamics for the ionization of K 2 attached to the surface of superfluid helium droplets. The superfluid helium matrix acts as a heat sink and reduces the coherence time of molecular processes by dissipation. We use tailor-shaped pulses in order to activate or inhibit different ionization paths by constructive or destructive wave packet interference. A drastic change of the wave packet dynamics is observed by shifting the phase between the exciting sub pulses.

Observation of Quantum Interference and Coherent Control in a Photochemical Reaction

“…[1][2][3][4]). Theoretical studies have concerned both the manipulation of light parameters, such as the pulse trains, polarization, relative phases, etc., [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] and the initial or final quantum states [13]. Experimentally, tailored light pulses have been shown to control isomerization, photoassociation (PA), and photodissociation [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”