Quantum control of light-induced reactions

An investigation of how ultracold molecules are broken apart by light reveals surprising, previously unobserved quantum effects. The work opens up avenues of research in quantum optics. See Letter p.122 Taking control of ultracold molecules Chemistry is beginning to benefit from the advances made by...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNature (London) Vol. 535; no. 7610; pp. 42 - 44
Main Author Chandler, David W.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Nature Publishing Group UK 07.07.2016
Nature Publishing Group
Subjects
639/638/440
639/766
639/766/483
Chemical reactions
Humanities and Social Sciences
Laser beams
Light
Magnetic fields
Molecules
multidisciplinary
news-and-views
Optics
Photolysis
Quantum optics
Quantum physics
Science
Strontium
Studies
Velocity
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Summary:An investigation of how ultracold molecules are broken apart by light reveals surprising, previously unobserved quantum effects. The work opens up avenues of research in quantum optics. See Letter p.122 Taking control of ultracold molecules Chemistry is beginning to benefit from the advances made by atomic physicists working with ultracold molecules. In particular, reaching the quantum regime and looking at basic chemical processes in this regime could yield rich insights into the basic building blocks of chemistry. Here, Tanya Zelevinsky and colleagues look at the photodissociation of ultracold 88 Sr 2 molecules and cleanly observe a wealth of quantum effects, including barrier tunnelling, matter–wave interference of reaction products and forbidden reaction pathways. The high level of control may allow for high-precision measurement of important quantities, such as long-range molecular potentials, in the future.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/535042a