Controlling reactions, alignment, and deposition of cold molecules by external electric fields with the use of superfluid helium nanodroplets

使用超流氦纳米液滴通过外部电场控制冷分子的反应、排列和沉积

• 批准号: 1213410
• 负责人: Vitaly Kresin
• 金额: $ 43.1万
• 依托单位: University of Southern California
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-09-01 至 2017-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1213410&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Controlling; reactions; alignment; deposition; cold

In this project, funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanisms Program of the Division of Chemistry, Prof. Vitaly Kresin's group from the University of Southern California will introduce an approach for manipulating the orientation, reactions, self-assembly, and surface deposition of very cold polar molecules by the application of an external field. This will be achieved by embedding the molecules into superfluid helium nanodroplets in a beam. The droplets cool the molecules to sub-Kelvin temperatures without impeding their ability to migrate and rotate freely. An externally imposed electric field will produce nearly complete molecular alignment. This novel route to explore and control quantum phenomena will be applied to the following areas: (i) Steering the outcome of molecular reactions and assembly via imposing a mutual orientation on the reactants; (ii) Nanodroplet size selection via electrostatic deflection of droplets doped with polar molecules. (iii) Soft-landing of aligned polar molecules via application of a directed electric field near a substrate. In terms of broader impacts, quantum-level control of cold and ultracold polar molecule assembly, interactions and reactions has attracted significant interdisciplinary interest in view of their potential value for quantum computing, novel condensate phases, molecular interferometry, and investigations of fundamental symmetries. Potential applications of the deposition technique include production of oriented films and arrays, enhanced optical sensing, etc. On the human resources side, the project will offer graduate students excellent training in a wide range of experimental and theoretical aspects of an inherently interdisciplinary field. Postdoctoral researchers will receive professional mentoring. Commitment to teaching and outreach includes ongoing active undergraduate student involvement in research, as well as contributions to programs and workshops for undergraduate, elementary-school, and high-school students.

在该项目中，由化学系化学结构、动力学和机制项目资助，南加州大学 Vitaly Kresin 教授的团队将介绍一种操纵取向、反应、自组装和表面沉积的方法通过施加外场来形成非常冷的极性分子。 这将通过将分子嵌入光束中的超流氦纳米液滴中来实现。 液滴将分子冷却至低于开尔文温度，而不妨碍它们自由迁移和旋转的能力。 外部施加的电场将产生几乎完全的分子排列。 这种探索和控制量子现象的新途径将应用于以下领域：（i）通过对反应物施加相互定向来控制分子反应和组装的结果； （ii）通过掺杂极性分子的液滴的静电偏转来选择纳米液滴尺寸。 (iii) 通过在基底附近施加定向电场来软着陆排列的极性分子。就更广泛的影响而言，冷和超冷极性分子组装、相互作用和反应的量子水平控制因其在量子计算、新型凝聚相、分子干涉测量和基本对称性研究方面的潜在价值而引起了跨学科的广泛兴趣。沉积技术的潜在应用包括定向薄膜和阵列的生产、增强的光学传感等。在人力资源方面，该项目将为研究生提供本质上跨学科领域的广泛实验和理论方面的优秀培训。 博士后研究人员将接受专业指导。 对教学和推广的承诺包括本科生持续积极参与研究，以及为本科生、小学生和高中生的项目和研讨会做出贡献。