Vibrational wave-packet control in cyanine dye molecules with free and restricted conjugated backbones

Abstract

Quantum control of photochemical processes such as photodissociation or photoisomerization can be realized by controlling wave-packet dynamics towards the reaction coordinate on the excited-state potential surface. We already demonstrated “real-time wave-packet engineering” by combining a highly sensitive wave-packet spectrometer, which enabled us to measure the time-resolved difference transmission spectra at 20 frame-persecond, with a computer-controlled pulse shaper [1]. We were successful in selectively exciting mode-specific motion of a wave-packet related to either the twisting or bending mode individually [2].