Optical Control of Molecular Dynamics

by Stuart A. Rice, Meishan Zhao

Overview

Advances in laser technology over the last 10-15 years have stimulated study of the active control of quantum molecular dynamics. Lasers may used to generate external fields of varying intensity, phases, and spectral content, which then are used to alter the molecular dynamics of a system so as to generate more of a particular product. Control of reactions at this microscopic level is one of the hot areas of research in chemical physics. This book describes the current status of the theory of optical control of molecular dynamics

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780471354239
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	03/13/2000
Series:	Baker Lecture Series , #9
Pages:	456
Product dimensions:	6.38(w) x 9.53(h) x 1.06(d)

About the Author

Stuart A. Rice received his master's and doctorate from Harvard University and was a Junior Fellow at Harvard for two years before joining the faculty of The University of Chicago in 1957 where he remains a well-known theoretical chemist who also does experimental research and is currently the Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at The University of Chicago. Professor Rice has served the university in a wide variety of capacities during his forty-eight year tenure. He served as the director of the James Franck Institute (the university's center for physical chemistry and condensed matter physics) from 1961 to 1967, was Chairman of the Department of Chemistry from 1971 to 1976 and was Dean of the Physical Sciences Division from 1981 to 1995. In 1999 he received the National Medal of Science.
In addition to his work at the University, he is currently on the Board of Governors at Argonne National Laboratory, managed by and affiliated with The University of Chicago, as well as Tel Aviv University. He has served as editor for Chemical Physics Letters, in addition to the series on Advances in Chemical Physics. He currently maintains a full research lab but has retired from teaching classes.

Table of Contents

How Much Control is Attainable?

Pulse Timing Control of Molecular Dynamics.

Multiple-Path Interference Control of Molecular Dynamics.

STIRAP Control of Molecular Dynamics.

Optimal Field Control of Molecular Dynamics I.

Optimal Field Control of Molecular Dynamics II.

Generic Aspects of the Control of Dynamics.

Reduced Space Analyses.

Some Other Control Methods.

End Notes.

Appendices.

Indexes.

Editorial Reviews

"...this text reflects the fact that all the central themes of this theory have since been experimentally validated." (SciTech Book News, Vol. 24, No. 4, December 2000)
"...an outstanding contribution that will be of value to both experimentalists and theoreticians..." (Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 123, No. 41, 2001)

From the Publisher

...this text reflects the fact that all the central themes of this theory have since been experimentally validated.

SciTech Book News

The use of nonlinear mechanics for the description of unimolecular chemical reactions began in the early 1980s, not without resistance from devotees of classical mechanics. Rooted in Rice's chemistry department lectures at Cornell U. in 1986 on the active control of isolated molecule dynamics by optical fields, this text reflects the fact that all the central themes of this theory have since been experimentally validated. Chapters address the conditions under which it is possible to control molecular dynamics; the extent of control feasible; and selected methods for exercising that control. Appends background information on wavepacket dynamics and numerical methods for calculating a control field. Rice is currently at the U. of Chicago. Zhao's affiliation is unclear. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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