I work on the coherent control of molecular interactions, that is collisions, by preparing single and superposition quantum states
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News
- Nov 2021: We experimentally demonstrate quantum interference in a bi-molecular collision by preparing a quantum mechanical double slit. The double slit is realized by preparing a coherent superposition state, which is a bi-axial state of molecular deuterium (D2). The two coherently coupled bond-axis orientations inelastically scatter He atoms, and their scattering amplitudes interfere in just the same way as the optical waves going through a double slit would. This experiment shows possibility of controlling chemical reaction coherently, that is by using phase rather than the number density. This work has been published in Science Magazine: Science. 374,960-964 (2021); doi/10.1126/science.abl4143.
- March 2021: Partial wave analysis of D2-He cold scattering reveals l =2 shape resonance and temporary formation of D2-He collision complex, which is fingerprinted in the scattering angular distribution. This work is chosen as Editors pick in J. Chem. Phys. J. Chem. Phys. 154, 104309 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0045087.
- April 2020: SARP has prepared an ensemble of highly stretched H2 molecules by successfully transferring the complete population from the initial ground vibrational level to the 7th vibrational level (v =7). The super stretched H2 (v =7) molecules will have significant impact in initiating cold reactions with a barrier. Besides these highly vibrationally excited H2 molecules have important application in generating H- beams by dissociative attachment of low energy electrons, which has important applications in igniting a fusion reactor (ITER). This work has been published in Phys. Rev. Lett., 124, 163202 (2020).doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.163202
- May 2018: Cold quantum-controlled scattering reveals collisional partner reorientation, published in Nature Chemistry.
- Feb 2018: Book chapter on SARP published in Frontiers and Advances in Molecular Spectroscopy.
- 20 Oct 2017: Our work on the quantum control of molecular collisions at 1 kelvin is published in Science.
- 26 Aug 2016: Nearly 100% transfer of HD molecules to the v=4 vibrational level using SARP.
- 27 Jan 2014: Using the first coherent superposition state preparation of H2 using SARP, we demonstrate interference in photoionization
- 4 Feb 2013: SARP experimentally demonstrated.
Information
Senior Research Scientist
Department of Chemistry
Stanford University