Infrared laser chemistry and the dynamics of molecular multiphoton excitation
Abstract
Recent progress in IR-laser chemistry is reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed upon the understanding of the photophysical primary processes of IR-multiphoton excitation in laser chemistry. The available experimental evidence on the main mechanisms of these processes is summarized and compared to various theoretical views. The connection to results on intramolecular rovibrational dynamics from high resolution spectroscopy is established. Some recent quantitative rate data are reviewed in relation to simple theoretical estimates. Several applications of IR-laser chemistry are mentioned, including laser isotope separation and mode selective chemistry. We conclude with a particularly striking potential application of laser chemistry to fundamental aspects of physics, the determination of the parity violating weak nuclear force in polyatomic molecules.
- Publication:
-
Infrared Physics
- Pub Date:
- May 1989
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0020-0891(89)90087-0
- Bibcode:
- 1989InfPh..29..441Q