Chemical Reactions and Their Control on the Femtosecond Time Scale

Continuing the tradition of the Advances in Chemical Physicsseries, Volume 101: Chemical Reactions and Their Control on theFemtosecond Time Scale details the extraordinary findings reportedat the XXth Solvay Conference on Chemistry, held at the UniversiteLibre de Bruxelles, Belgium, from November 28 to December 2, 1995.This new volume discusses the remarkable opportunities afforded bythe femtosecond laser, focusing on the host of phenomena this laserhas made it possible to observe. Examining molecules on theintrinsic time scale of their vibrations as well as theirdissociative motions and electronic excitations represents onlypart of a broadened scientific window made possible by thefemtosecond laser. The assembled studies, with follow-up discussions, reflect the manyspecialties and perspectives of the Conference's 65 participants aswell as their optimism concerning the breadth of scientificdiscovery now open to them. The studies shed light on the laser'senhanced technical reach in the area of coherent control ofchemical reactions as well as of more general quantum systems. Thetheoretical fundamentals of femto-chemistry, the unique behavior ofthe femtosecond laser, and a view toward future technologicalapplications were also discussed: * Femtochemistry: chemical reaction dynamics and their control * Coherent control with femtosecond laser pulses * Femtosecond chemical dynamics in condensed phases * Control of quantum many-body dynamics * Experimental observation of laser control * Solvent dynamics and RRKM theory of clusters * High-resolution spectroscopy and intramolecular dynamics * Molecular Rydberg states and ZEKE spectroscopy * Transition-state spectroscopy and photodissociation * Quantum and semiclassical theories of chemical reactionrates. A fascinating and informative status report on the cutting-edgechemical research made possible by the femtosecond laser, ChemicalReactions and Their Control on the Femtosecond Time Scale is anindispensable volume for professionals and students alike. The femtosecond laser and chemistry's extraordinary new frontier ofmolecular motions observed on the scale of a quadrillionth of asecond. Research chemists have only tapped the surface of the spectacularreach and precision of the femtosecond laser, a technology that hasallowed them to observe the dynamics of molecules on the intrinsictime scale of their vibrations, dissociative motions, andelectronic excitations. Volume 101 in the Advances in ChemicalPhysics series, Chemical Reactions and Their Control on theFemtosecond Time Scale details their extraordinary findings,presented at the XXth Solvay Conference on Chemistry, inBrussels. The studies reflect the work, in part, of the Conference's 65participants, including many prominent contributors. Together theyshed light on the laser's enhanced technical range in the area ofcoherent control of chemical reactions as well as of more generalquantum systems. The theoretical fundamentals of femtochemistry,the unique behavior of the femtosecond laser, and a view towardfuture technological applications were also discussed. An exceptionally up-to-date examination of the chemical analysesmade possible by the femtosecond laser, Chemical Reactions andTheir Control on the Femtosecond Time Scale is an importantreference for professionals and students interested in enhancingtheir research capabilities with this remarkable tool. From 1993 to 1996, she worked with Dr. P. Gaspard at the UniversiteLibre de Bruxelles, Belgium, on the application of newsemiclassical techniques to elementary chemical reaction processes.