Subject：Chiral molecules in laser fields with twisted polarization
Speaker：Ilya Averbukh, Weizmann Institute of Science
Emcee：Prof. Jian Wu
Time：2:00pm, 27th Nov, 2019
Place：Science Building A814
Abstract：
We present a new method for enantioselective orientation of chiral molecules with the help of laser fields with twisted polarization. We theoretically explored this approach using several chiral molecules and several implementations of the twisted fields. Moreover, we showed that the induced orientation is long-lived, and lasts at field-free conditions on a time scale exceeding the duration of the excitation laser pulses by many orders of magnitude.
Recently, we teamed up with Valery Milner’s experimental group from the University of British Columbia, Canada, which resulted in the first experimental demonstration of Laser enantioselective rotational control of chiral molecules by using propylene oxide (PPO) molecules spun in an optical centrifuge. Furthermore, the most recent experiments of the same group demonstrated the predicted persistent field-free orientation of the PPO molecules long after the end of the centrifuge pulse.
About the Speaker:
Prof. Averbukh was educated in Moscow State University, Novosibirsk State University and Applied Physics Institute, Academy of Sciences, Kishinev, USSR before joining the Weizmann Institute of Science in 1991. Prof. Averbukhcontributed to various domains of coherent and nonlinear optics, ultrafast spectroscopy, quantum optics and applied optics. Authored and coauthored of more than hundred research papers, two books on strong field physics, and four patents. Discovered the phenomenon of fractional revivals of quantum wave packets, invented and experimentally demonstrated (together with multiple experimental collaborators throughout the world) a number of novel techniques for controlling electronic, vibrational and rotational wave packets. In particular, suggested multi-pulse approach to enhanced molecular alignment/orientation, proposed atom lithography schemes of enhanced resolution, designed and implemented a number of methods for selective laser control in molecular mixtures, suggested several techniques for controlling molecular rotation by short laser pulses, and for guiding molecular motion in electric, magnetic and optical fields. In recent years, theoretically investigated, and stimulated successful experiments on optics and kinetics of molecular super-rotors, and Anderson localization, Bloch oscillations and echo phenomena in laser-stimulated molecular rotation. Elected an APS Fellow and OSA Fellow for the research on the dynamics of quantum wave packets.
