Coherent control of molecular vibrations for chemically selective microscopy

by Prof. Jennifer Herek (University of Twente)

Monday 15 Nov 2010, 10:15 → 11:00 Europe/Stockholm

FA31

Coherent control microscopy exploits interference effects of light and matter to enhance the detection sensitivity and selectivity of complex molecules. Our experiment combines coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy with adaptive pulse shaping of the femtosecond laser pulses. By phase shaping the broadband pulses we create coherent superpositions of several vibrational resonances that enhance the desired signals, and can further suppress the nonresonant background signal that typically plagues such measurements. Combined with our narrowband CARS efforts where we can measure both amplitude and phase simultaneously, we aim to develop a database of optical pulseforms customized for particular molecules. The talk will cover the underlying concepts, proof-of-principle experiments, and application perspectives of this approach