Controlling molecules with lasers and lasers with molecules

I investigate quantum control of spin in molecules using shaped ultrafast lasers and the dynamics of those lasers when their cavities are modified to include programmable molecular masks. The ability to control quantum phenomena has had several large successes over the last decade. This field, known as Quantum Control, uses closed loop learning algorithms to shape ultrashort laser pulses in order to produce a desired state or state change. Interesting pulse shapes have been able to break chemical bonds, drive chemical reactions, selectively excite molecular states, and most recently, control photoisomerization in proteins [1, 2, 3]. In this thesis I began by seeking to apply this technique to manipulate spin. In our early work we pursued polarizing electron spins and nuclear spins for NMR Quantum Computation. We studied the electron spin triplet state properties of several molecules. Through this work we recognized that the laser and pulse shaper we were using could be modified to utilize the triplet properties of our molecules. We created a molecular triplet state spatial light modulator (SLM) to be used both outside and inside the laser cavity for ultrafast pulse shaping. The SLM consists of a liquid or thin film sample with a strong triplet state absorption.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. Program In Media Arts and Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Taylor, Jason Matthew, 1977-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Neil Gershenfeld.

• Architecture. Program In Media Arts and Sciences

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/38638

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/38638