Investigation of Alkali-Halide Photodissociation by Sub-Doppler Spectroscopy

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Dieter Zimmermann
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2003 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5412914

Within this German-Russian cooperation the photodissociation of alkali-halide molecules will be investigated experimentally by observing the spin-polarisation of the alkali atom. Pulsed tunable radiation in the near UV, provided by a pulsed tunable dye laser and a frequency doubling unit, is used for dissociation. The polarisation of the alkali atom photofragments is detected by means of a cw probe laser beam being scanned near the well-known alkali atom resonance lines. The experimental results give information on the dynamics of the process of photodissociation which plays a key role in physics and chemistry of the atmosphere of the earth and the planets. In addition, the experiments will provide information on up to now unknown interatomic potentials of excited states of these molecules.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Russia
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Oleg Vasyutinskii