6533b839fe1ef96bd12a635c

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Laser-induced field-free alignment of the OCS molecule

Bruno LavorelEdouard HertzOlivier FaucherOlivier FaucherD. CharalambidisD. CharalambidisParaskevas TzallasVincent LoriotVincent LoriotE. P. Benis

subject

PhysicsKerr effectField (physics)Triatomic moleculePhysics::OpticsNonlinear opticsCondensed Matter PhysicsLaserAtomic and Molecular Physics and Opticslaw.inventionPulse (physics)lawIonizationPhysics::Atomic PhysicsAtomic physicsSaturation (chemistry)

description

We investigate the dynamical alignment of jet-cooled OCS molecules induced by a short laser pulse. The alignment is measured through the orientational contribution of the optical Kerr effect using a second weak laser pulse as a probe. Maximum alignment is observed at conditions close to saturation of ionization. The results are analysed with a quantum mechanical model solving for the rotational dynamics.

https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/40/12/023