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The main theme covered in this thesis is experimentalstudies of quantum dynamics and coherent control in homonuclearalkali diatomic molecules by ultrafast laser spectroscopy iththe implementation of pump-probe techniques. A series of experiments have been performed on the Rb2molecules in a molecular beam as well as in a thermal oven. Thereal-time molecular quantum dynamics of the predissociatingelectronically excited D(3)1Πu state of Rb2, which couples to/intersects several otherneighbouring states, is investigated using wavepackets. Thepredissociation of the D state, explored by this wavepacketmethod, arises from two independent states, the (4)3Σu+and (1)3∆u, for which the second corresponds to a much fasterdecay channel above a sharp energy threshold around 430 nm. Thelifetime of the D state above the energy threshold is obtained,τ ≈ 5 ps, by measuring the decay time of thewavepacket in a thermal oven. Further experimentalinvestigation performed in a molecular beam together withquantum calculations of wavepacket dynamics on the D state haveexplored new probe channels of wavepacket evolution: theD′(3)1Σu+ channel, which exhibits vibrational motionin a shelf state and the (4)3Σu+ channel, where direct build-up of thewavefunction is observed due to its spin-orbit oupling to the Dstate. The real-time quantum dynamics of wavepackets confined totwo bound states, A1Σu+(0u+) and b3Πu(0u+), have been studied by experiment andcalculations. It is shown that these two states are fullycoupled by spin-orbit interaction, characterised by itsintermediate strength. The intermediate character of thedynamics is established by complicated wavepacket oscillationatterns and a value of 75 cm-1is estimated for the coupling strength at thestate crossing. The experiments on the Li2molecule are performed by coherent control ofrovibrational molecular wavepackets. First, the Deutsch-Jozsaalgorithm is experimentally demonstrated for three-qubitfunctions using a pure coherent superposition of Li2rovibrational eigenstates. The function’scharacter, either constant or balanced, is evaluated by firstimprinting the function, using a phase-tailored femtosecond(fs) pulse, on a coherent superposition of the molecularstates, and then projecting the superposition onto an ionicfinal state using a second fs pulse at a specific delay time.Furthermore, an amplitude-tailored fs pulse is used to exciteselected rovibrational eigenstates and collision induceddephasing of the wavepacket signal, due to Li2-Ar collisions, is studied experimentally. Theintensities of quantum beats decaying with the delay time aremeasured under various pressures and the collisional crosssections are calculated for each well-defined rovibrationalquantum beat, which set the upper limitsfor ure dephasingcross sections. <b>Keywords:</b>Ultrafast laser spectroscopy, pump-probetechnique, predissociation, wavepacket, pin-orbit interaction,coherent control, (pure) dephasing

<p>The main theme covered in this thesis is experimentalstudies of quantum dynamics and coherent control in homonuclearalkali diatomic molecules by ultrafast laser spectroscopy iththe implementation of pump-probe techniques.</p><p>A series of experiments have been performed on the Rb2molecules in a molecular beam as well as in a thermal oven. Thereal-time molecular quantum dynamics of the predissociatingelectronically excited D(3)¹Πu state of Rb₂, which couples to/intersects several otherneighbouring states, is investigated using wavepackets. Thepredissociation of the D state, explored by this wavepacketmethod, arises from two independent states, the (4)³Σ_u⁺and (1)³∆_u, for which the second corresponds to a much fasterdecay channel above a sharp energy threshold around 430 nm. Thelifetime of the D state above the energy threshold is obtained,τ ≈ 5 ps, by measuring the decay time of thewavepacket in a thermal oven. Further experimentalinvestigation performed in a molecular beam together withquantum calculations of wavepacket dynamics on the D state haveexplored new probe channels of wavepacket evolution: theD′(3)1Σu+ channel, which exhibits vibrational motionin a shelf state and the (4)³Σu+ channel, where direct build-up of thewavefunction is observed due to its spin-orbit oupling to the Dstate.</p><p>The real-time quantum dynamics of wavepackets confined totwo bound states, A¹Σ_u⁺(0_u⁺) and b³Π_u(0_u⁺), have been studied by experiment andcalculations. It is shown that these two states are fullycoupled by spin-orbit interaction, characterised by itsintermediate strength. The intermediate character of thedynamics is established by complicated wavepacket oscillationatterns and a value of 75 cm^-1is estimated for the coupling strength at thestate crossing.</p><p>The experiments on the Li₂molecule are performed by coherent control ofrovibrational molecular wavepackets. First, the Deutsch-Jozsaalgorithm is experimentally demonstrated for three-qubitfunctions using a pure coherent superposition of Li₂rovibrational eigenstates. The function’scharacter, either constant or balanced, is evaluated by firstimprinting the function, using a phase-tailored femtosecond(fs) pulse, on a coherent superposition of the molecularstates, and then projecting the superposition onto an ionicfinal state using a second fs pulse at a specific delay time.Furthermore, an amplitude-tailored fs pulse is used to exciteselected rovibrational eigenstates and collision induceddephasing of the wavepacket signal, due to Li₂-Ar collisions, is studied experimentally. Theintensities of quantum beats decaying with the delay time aremeasured under various pressures and the collisional crosssections are calculated for each well-defined rovibrationalquantum beat, which set the upper limitsfor ure dephasingcross sections.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>Ultrafast laser spectroscopy, pump-probetechnique, predissociation, wavepacket, pin-orbit interaction,coherent control, (pure) dephasing</p>

We have studied fundamental aspects of photo-induced dissociation kinetics and dynamics in several phenyl halides. By combining femtosecond pump-probe measurements with ab initio calculations we are able to account for several observations. In mixed phenyl halides, the dissociation kinetics is found to be dependent on the nature, the number, and the position of the substituents, and also on the excitation wavelength. A surprisingly large reduction in the dissociation time constant, compared to that of bromobenzene (~30 ps), is observed when having two or more fluorine atoms. For example, in bromopentafluorobenzene a subpicosecond time constant is obtained. This can be explained by a significant lowering of the repulsive potential energy curves (PEC) along the C-Br bond. However, several of the experimental results cannot be accounted for by one-dimensional PECs. Therefore, we suggest a refined model for the dissociation, in which the excited states of the same spin multiplicity are coupled by employing multidimensional potential energy surfaces. This model has been explicitly evaluated by quantum dynamics simulations in the case of 3-BrFPh, and it seems to be capable of capturing the main features in the measured kinetics. Thereby we are also able to clarify the role of spin-orbit coupling in these molecules.

Halogenhaltigen atmosphärischen Spurengasen wird eine Schlüsselrolle bei lokalen, regionalen und globalen Veränderungen der Erdatmosphäre zugesprochen. Die Photolyse dieser Stoffe durch ultraviolette Strahlung der Sonne führt zum Eintrag reaktiver Atome und Radikale in die Atmosphäre. Dies betrifft vor allem den stratosphärischen Ozonabbau, der nach heutigem Kenntnisstand durch Reaktionszyklen katalysiert wird und bei dem die Photolyse halogenhaltiger Spurengase an zentraler Stelle beteiligt ist. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden primäre Photoprozesse halogenhaltiger atmosphärischer Spurengase in Laborexperimenten charakterisiert. Dabei bestand das Ziel in der Bestimmung von primären Quantenausbeuten und Verzweigungsverhältnissen konkurrierender Photolysekanäle. Hierfür wurde ein neuartiger experimenteller Ansatz genutzt, der die folgenden Komponenten beinhaltet: (a) Photolyse der Spurengase durch gepulste ultraviolette Laserstrahlung unter stoßfreien Bedingungen, (b) Ein-Photon-Ionisation der neutralen Photolyseprodukte mittels durchstimmbarer Vakuum-UV-Strahlung und (c) Identifizierung der gebildeten Photoprodukt-Ionen durch Flugzeit-Massenspektrometrie. Dieser Ansatz ermöglicht die Identifizierung aller gebildeten Photolyseprodukte, die Bestimmung des Anregungszustandes der Photoprodukte durch Ausnutzung von Autoionisationsprozessen und die Bestimmung von Verzweigungsverhältnissen und Quantenausbeuten konkurrierender Photoprozesse.Im einzelnen wurden die atmosphärischen Spurengase Chlormonoxid (ClO) und sein Dimer (Cl2O2), Nitrylchlorid (ClNO2), Brommonoxid (BrO) und Bromnitrat (BrONO2) untersucht. Die Resultate können zur Verfeinerung atmosphärischer Modelle und deren Prognosefähigkeit beitragen. Insbesondere können die Ergebnisse auch einen Beitrag zur zuverlässigen Interpretation von Ergebnissen aus Feldstudien leisten.