Resonant uv pump-probe spectroscopy of dipicolinic acid via impulsive excitation

Robert K. Murawski, Yuri V. Rostovtsev, Zoe-Elizabeth Sariyanni, Vladimir A. Sautenkov, Sterling Backus, Daisy Raymondson, Henry C. Kapteyn, Margaret M. Murnane, and Marlan O. Scully

Phys. Rev. A 77, 023403 – Published 4 February 2008

Abstract

We present experimental evidence of coherent wave packet motion in dipicolinic acid $(C_{7} H_{5} N O_{4})$ which is an important marker molecule for bacterial spores. Resonant impulsive excitation is achieved by applying a uv pump pulse ( $267 nm$ , $16 fs$ ) which has a duration that is shorter than the vibrational period of the molecules. The resulting dynamics is then probed with a weaker pulse of the same width and frequency. Evidence of the important “fingerprint” region for this molecule (between $1000 {cm}^{- 1}$ and $1500 {cm}^{- 1}$ ) is found in the transient absorption of the probe. We present simulations of the pump-probe experiment, based on the Liouville equation for the density matrix, and predict the optimal pulse width and detuning.

Received 6 November 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.77.023403

Authors & Affiliations

Robert K. Murawski

Institute for Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4242, USA and Department of Physics, Drew University, Madison, New Jersey 07940, USA

Yuri V. Rostovtsev and Zoe-Elizabeth Sariyanni

Institute for Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4242, USA

Vladimir A. Sautenkov

Institute for Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4242, USA and P. N. Lebedev Institute of Physics, 53 Leninsky prospect, Moscow 119991, Russia

Sterling Backus, Daisy Raymondson, Henry C. Kapteyn, and Margaret M. Murnane

Department of Physics and JILA, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0440, USA

Marlan O. Scully

Institute for Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-4242, USA and Applied Physics and Materials Science Group, Engineering Quadrangle, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Issue

Vol. 77, Iss. 2 — February 2008

Reuse & Permissions

Access Options

Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Physical Review A

covering atomic, molecular, and optical physics and quantum information