A Bi-Axial Quantum State That Controls Molecular Collisions Like a Double-Slit Interferometer
To control molecular scattering, we consider hydrogen molecules prepared in a coherent superposition of m states within a single rovibrational (v, j) energy eigenstate using Stark-induced adiabatic Raman passage (SARP). Specifically, SARP can prepare a bi-axial state of the HD molecule in which the...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-05-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Physics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2021.671997/full |
| _version_ | 1818602306012184576 |
|---|---|
| author | William E. Perreault Haowen Zhou Nandini Mukherjee Richard N. Zare |
| author_facet | William E. Perreault Haowen Zhou Nandini Mukherjee Richard N. Zare |
| author_sort | William E. Perreault |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To control molecular scattering, we consider hydrogen molecules prepared in a coherent superposition of m states within a single rovibrational (v, j) energy eigenstate using Stark-induced adiabatic Raman passage (SARP). Specifically, SARP can prepare a bi-axial state of the HD molecule in which the HD bond axis exists simultaneously in two possible alignments at right angles to one another with a well-defined relative phase. We show that scattering from this biaxial state will interfere, resulting in a φ -dependent scattering intensity distribution, where φ is the azimuthal angle about the collision velocity direction. Using the scattering matrix extracted from our experiments on the rotationally inelastic collisions of quantum state prepared HD at low temperatures, we calculate the differential scattering cross-section dσ/dΩ, which shows an interference pattern as function of θ and φ in the image plane perpendicular to the collision velocity. The calculated scattering image shows that scattering from the bi-axial state directs molecules along well-defined angles, corresponding to interference maxima. Thus, the bi-axial state behaves like a double slit for molecular scattering. Moreover, by rotating the polarizations of the SARP preparation lasers, we can control the interference thereby altering the scattering angular distribution. This molecular interferometer, which experimentally measures the relative phases of the scattering matrix elements, allows a direct test of theoretical calculations on important, fundamental collision processes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T13:05:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fdff2e48f06c4185873b7f0c22fd46d2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-424X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T13:05:10Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-fdff2e48f06c4185873b7f0c22fd46d22022-12-21T22:30:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physics2296-424X2021-05-01910.3389/fphy.2021.671997671997A Bi-Axial Quantum State That Controls Molecular Collisions Like a Double-Slit InterferometerWilliam E. PerreaultHaowen ZhouNandini MukherjeeRichard N. ZareTo control molecular scattering, we consider hydrogen molecules prepared in a coherent superposition of m states within a single rovibrational (v, j) energy eigenstate using Stark-induced adiabatic Raman passage (SARP). Specifically, SARP can prepare a bi-axial state of the HD molecule in which the HD bond axis exists simultaneously in two possible alignments at right angles to one another with a well-defined relative phase. We show that scattering from this biaxial state will interfere, resulting in a φ -dependent scattering intensity distribution, where φ is the azimuthal angle about the collision velocity direction. Using the scattering matrix extracted from our experiments on the rotationally inelastic collisions of quantum state prepared HD at low temperatures, we calculate the differential scattering cross-section dσ/dΩ, which shows an interference pattern as function of θ and φ in the image plane perpendicular to the collision velocity. The calculated scattering image shows that scattering from the bi-axial state directs molecules along well-defined angles, corresponding to interference maxima. Thus, the bi-axial state behaves like a double slit for molecular scattering. Moreover, by rotating the polarizations of the SARP preparation lasers, we can control the interference thereby altering the scattering angular distribution. This molecular interferometer, which experimentally measures the relative phases of the scattering matrix elements, allows a direct test of theoretical calculations on important, fundamental collision processes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2021.671997/fullinterferencebiaxial spatial distributionangular distributionmolecular scatteringcoherence |
| spellingShingle | William E. Perreault Haowen Zhou Nandini Mukherjee Richard N. Zare A Bi-Axial Quantum State That Controls Molecular Collisions Like a Double-Slit Interferometer Frontiers in Physics interference biaxial spatial distribution angular distribution molecular scattering coherence |
| title | A Bi-Axial Quantum State That Controls Molecular Collisions Like a Double-Slit Interferometer |
| title_full | A Bi-Axial Quantum State That Controls Molecular Collisions Like a Double-Slit Interferometer |
| title_fullStr | A Bi-Axial Quantum State That Controls Molecular Collisions Like a Double-Slit Interferometer |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Bi-Axial Quantum State That Controls Molecular Collisions Like a Double-Slit Interferometer |
| title_short | A Bi-Axial Quantum State That Controls Molecular Collisions Like a Double-Slit Interferometer |
| title_sort | bi axial quantum state that controls molecular collisions like a double slit interferometer |
| topic | interference biaxial spatial distribution angular distribution molecular scattering coherence |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2021.671997/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT williameperreault abiaxialquantumstatethatcontrolsmolecularcollisionslikeadoubleslitinterferometer AT haowenzhou abiaxialquantumstatethatcontrolsmolecularcollisionslikeadoubleslitinterferometer AT nandinimukherjee abiaxialquantumstatethatcontrolsmolecularcollisionslikeadoubleslitinterferometer AT richardnzare abiaxialquantumstatethatcontrolsmolecularcollisionslikeadoubleslitinterferometer AT williameperreault biaxialquantumstatethatcontrolsmolecularcollisionslikeadoubleslitinterferometer AT haowenzhou biaxialquantumstatethatcontrolsmolecularcollisionslikeadoubleslitinterferometer AT nandinimukherjee biaxialquantumstatethatcontrolsmolecularcollisionslikeadoubleslitinterferometer AT richardnzare biaxialquantumstatethatcontrolsmolecularcollisionslikeadoubleslitinterferometer |