General Physics Seminar 18 December 2003

 
                 Adaptive femtosecond pulse shaping for
                   coherent control of (bio)molecules

                           Jennifer Herek
                         FOM-Institute AMOLF
                      Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  
Coherent control aims to steer a quantum mechanical system toward a
desired outcome by exploiting interference effects. In a closed-loop
experiment combining adaptive femtosecond pulse shaping, molecular
feedback, and a learning algorithm, even systems considered intractable
on an ab initio quantum-mechanical level may be explored.  For example,
we recently used this technique to demonstrate control over the
biological function of photosynthetic light harvesting [Herek et al.,
Nature (2002) 417:533-535]. The applicability of this approach to
biomolecules has opened new access for spectroscopic studies that will
provide insight into how nature designs systems for optimal performance.
 
This talk will provide an overview of various pulse shaping methodologies
and their application to coherent control experiments aimed at unraveling
reaction mechanisms in complex systems.