by Yuichi Fujimura (Tohoku University, Japan) & Hirofumi Sakai (University of Tokyo, Japan)

In recent years, there has been rapid growth in the research field of real-time observation of nuclear and electronic dynamics in molecules. Its time range extends from femtoseconds to attoseconds. This has been made possible by the development of both laser technology and time-dependent theoretical treatments. Indeed, this research field is arguably the most active one in molecular science, second only to femtosecond chemistry. The outcome of the research is expected to make an important contribution to physics, materials science and biology as well as chemistry.

In this monograph, the fundamental theories and methods, as well as experimental methods and results, of real-time observation of both nuclear and electronic motions in molecular systems are described. It is suitable for researchers who want to make an active contribution to the new research field and for graduate students who are interested in ultra-fast nuclear and electron dynamics in molecular systems.

• Basic Concepts and Fundamental Dynamics:
  • Wavepacket
  • Adiabatic and Nonadiabatic Treatments
  • Quantum Control by Pulse Shaping
  • Multiphoton vs. Tunneling Ionization
  • High-Order Harmonic Generation (HHG)
  • Rescattering of Electrons
  • Above-Threshold Ionization (ATI)
  • Above-Threshold Dissociation (ATD)
  • Coulomb Explosion
  • Alignment and Orientation
  • Molecular Chirality
  • Molecular ADK Theory for Tunneling Ionization Rate
  • Summary
• Experimental Setups and Methods:
  • Laser-Induced Coulomb Explosion Imaging
  • High-Order Harmonic Generation
  • Molecular Orientation and Its Observation
• Theoretical Treatments of Wavepackets:
  • Generation of Wavepacket and Its Propagation
  • Numerical Methods for Wavepacket Propagation
  • Wavepacket Propagation Method in the Scattering Matrix Framework
• Molecular Manipulation Techniques with Laser Technologies and Their Applications:
  • Introduction
  • Techniques for Molecular Alignment
  • Techniques for Molecular Orientation
  • Various Applications with a Sample of Aligned or Oriented Molecules
  • Concluding Remarks
• Electronic and Nuclear Dynamics in Intense Laser Fields:
  • Electron–Nuclei Correlated Motions in H⁺₂
  • Interelectronic Correlation in a Hydrogen Molecule
  • Reaction Dynamics of Carbon Dioxide
  • Benzene
  • Fullerene
  • Ejection of Triatomic Hydrogen Molecular Ions from Hydrocarbons
• Electron Rotation Induced by Laser Pulses:
  • Introduction
  • Electronic Ring Currents Generated by Circularly Polarized Laser Pulses
  • Control of Unidirectional Rotations of π-Electrons in Chiral Aromatic Molecules
  • Nonadiabatic Effects of Laser-Induced π-Electron Rotation
• Photoisomerization and Its Control:
  • Introduction
  • Real-Time Observation of Stilbene Cis–Trans Isomerization
  • Quantum Control of Retinal Isomerization in Bacteriorhodopsin
  • Quantum Control of Retinal Isomerization in Rhodopsin
• Quantum Control of Molecular Chirality:
  • Molecular Chirality Transformation in a Preoriented Racemic Mixture
  • Pump–Dump Control via an Electronic Excited State
  • Stimulated Raman Adiabatic Passage Method
  • Control of Helical Chirality
  • Quantum Control in a Randomly Oriented Racemic Mixture Using Three Polarization Components of the Electric Fields