Time-resolved studies of ultrafast wavepacket dynamics in hydrogen molecules

Recent advances in the study of quantum vibrations and rotations in the fundamental hydrogen molecules are reported. Using the deuterium molecules (D 2 + and D 2) as exemplars, the application of ultrafast femtosecond pump-probe experiments to study the creation and time-resolved imaging of coherent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physics reports 2010-06, Vol.491 (1), p.1-28
Main Authors: Calvert, C.R., Bryan, W.A., Newell, W.R., Williams, I.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Deuterium
Exact sciences and technology
Femtosecond
Hydrogen
Physics
Pump-probe
Time-resolved
Ultrafast
Wavepacket revival
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Summary:Recent advances in the study of quantum vibrations and rotations in the fundamental hydrogen molecules are reported. Using the deuterium molecules (D 2 + and D 2) as exemplars, the application of ultrafast femtosecond pump-probe experiments to study the creation and time-resolved imaging of coherent nuclear wavepackets is discussed. The ability to study the motion of these fundamental molecules in the time-domain is a notable milestone, made possible through the advent of ultrashort intense laser pulses with durations on sub-vibrational (and sub-rotational) timescales. Quantum wavepacket revivals are characterised for both vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom and quantum models are used to provide a detailed discussion of the underlying ultrafast physical dynamics for the specialist and non-specialist alike.
ISSN:0370-1573
1873-6270
DOI:10.1016/j.physrep.2009.12.004