Laser-field-free orientation of state-selected asymmetric top molecules

Abstract

With combined electrostatic and shaped laser fields with a slow turn on and rapid turn off, laser-field-free orientation of asymmetric top iodobenzene molecules with higher degrees of orientation has been achieved. In order to further increase the degrees of orientation, state-selected molecules are used as a sample. It is confirmed that higher degrees of orientation are maintained in the laser-field-free condition for 5--10 ps, which is long enough to study femtosecond-attosecond dynamics in molecules, after the rapid turn off of the laser pulse. The observation of the slow dephasing time of 5--10 ps ensures future prospects in molecular orientation techniques. This accomplishment means not only that a unique molecular sample has become available in various applications but also that the present technique can be used as a spectroscopic technique to investigate ultrafast rotational dynamics of molecules.