Optical Control of Molecular Dynamics Baker Lecture Series

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

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.

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.