@phdthesis{Marquetand2007,
  author    = {Marquetand, Philipp},
  title     = {Vectorial properties and laser control of molecular dynamics},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-24697},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {In this work, the laser control of molecules was investigated theoretically. In doing so, emphasis was layed on entering vectorial properties and in particular the orientation in the laboratory frame. Therefore, the rotational degree of freedom had to be included in the quantum mechanical description. The coupled vibrational and rotational dynamics was examined, which is usually not done in coherent control theory. Local control theory was applied, where the field is determined from the dynamics of a system, which reacts with an instantaneous response to the perturbation and, in turn, determines the field again. Thus, the field is entangled with the quantum mechanical motion and the presented examples document, that this leads to an intuitive interpretation of the fields in terms of the underlying molecular dynamics. The limiting case of a classical treatment was shown to give similar results and hence, eases to understand the complicated structure of the control fields. In a different approach, the phase- and amplitude shaping of laser fields was systematically studied in the context of controlling population transfer in molecules.},
  subject      = {Laserchemie},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Razinskas2018,
  author    = {Razinskas, Gary},
  title     = {Functional plasmonic nanocircuitry},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-166917},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {In this work, functional plasmonic nanocircuitry is examined as a key of revolutionizing state-of-the-art electronic and photonic circuitry in terms of integration density and transmission bandwidth. In this context, numerical simulations enable the design of dedicated devices, which allow fundamental control of photon flow at the nanometer scale via single or multiple plasmonic eigenmodes. The deterministic synthesis and in situ analysis of these eigenmodes is demonstrated and constitutes an indispensable requirement for the practical use of any device. By exploiting the existence of multiple eigenmodes and coherence - both not accessible in classical electronics - a nanoscale directional coupler for the ultrafast spatial and spatiotemporal coherent control of plasmon propagation is conceived. Future widespread application of plasmonic nanocircuitry in quantum technologies is boosted by the promising demonstrations of spin-optical and quantum plasmonic nanocircuitry.},
  subject      = {Nanooptik},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Niklaus2004,
  author    = {Niklaus, Patrick},
  title     = {Adaptive Femtosekunden Quantenkontrolle chemischer Reaktionen in der fl{\"u}ssigen Phase},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-12855},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2004},
  abstract  = {Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, die Methode der adaptiven Pulsformung von Femtosekunden Laserpulsen in der fl{\"u}ssigen Phase experimentell zu realisieren. Eine Erweiterung dieser Technik auf die kondensierte Phase stellt einen wichtigen Schritt in Richtung einer breiten Anwendbarkeit zur Steuerung von chemischen Reaktionen dar. Die gr{\"o}ßere Teilchendichte im Vergleich zur Gasphase erm{\"o}glicht zum einen eine Erh{\"o}hung der erzielbaren absoluten Produktausbeuten. Andererseits ergibt sich erst dadurch die M{\"o}glichkeit, reale chemische Reaktionen, wie bimolekulare Reaktionen, gezielt zu steuern, da St{\"o}ße zwischen verschiedenen Molek{\"u}len wahrscheinlicher werden. Die Methode der adaptiven Quantenkontrolle ist f{\"u}r die Anwendung in der fl{\"u}ssigen Phase bestens geeignet, da sie eine koh{\"a}rente Kontrolle von photoinduzierten molekularen Prozessen selbst in komplexen Quantensystemen erlaubt. In dieser experimentellen Umsetzung einer ,,geschlossenen Kontrollschleife'' wird die spektrale Phasenstruktur von fs-Laserpulsen in einem computergesteuerten Pulsformer moduliert. Der resultierende geformte Laserpuls wechselwirkt anschließend mit dem zu untersuchenden molekularen System und steuert aktiv die Entwicklung des erzeugten Wellenpakets auf der Potentialenergiefl{\"a}che. Eine quantitative Messung der erzeugten Photoprodukte dieser Licht-Materie Wechselwirkung dient als R{\"u}ckkopplungssignal eines selbstlernenden Computeralgorithmus. Der auf dem Prinzip der Evolutionstheorie arbeitende Algorithmus verbessert nun iterativ die Pulsform bis ein Optimum des gew{\"u}nschten Reaktionskanals erreicht wird. Das modulierte elektrische Feld des Laserpulses passt sich somit entsprechend der gestellten Kontrollaufgabe automatisch den molekularen Eigenschaften an. Um jedoch die Anwendung dieser Technik auch in der kondensierten Phase zu demonstrieren, mussten Methoden zur Gewinnung eines R{\"u}ckkopplungssignals gefunden werden. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden daher M{\"o}glichkeiten eines quantitativen R{\"u}ckkopplungssignals f{\"u}r die adaptive Kontrolle in der fl{\"u}ssigen Phase untersucht, wie die Emissionsspektroskopie und die transiente Absorption im UV/VIS oder infraroten Spektralbereich. In einem ersten Experiment wurde die Emissionsspektroskopie verwendet, um einen Ladungstransferprozess (MLCT) in einem Ru(II)-Komplex ([Ru(dpb)3]2+) mit geformten fs-Laserpulsen zu steuern. Um die dominierende Intensit{\"a}tsabh{\"a}ngigkeit der Anregung zu eliminieren, wurde die Emissionsausbeute mit dem SHG-Signal eines nichtlinearen Kristalls „normiert". Diese Ausl{\"o}schung des intensit{\"a}tsabh{\"a}ngigen Faktors in beiden Prozessen erm{\"o}glichte es, Pulsformen zu finden, die dieses Verh{\"a}ltnis sowohl maximieren als auch minimieren. Ein Ansatz zur Erkl{\"a}rung der experimentellen Ergebnisse konnte mit Hilfe eines st{\"o}rungstheoretischen Modells beschrieben werden. In einem zweiten Experiment wurde erstmals eine photochemische Selektivit{\"a}t zwischen zwei verschiedenen Substanzen in der kondensierten Phase demonstriert. Dabei sollte die jeweilige Zwei-Photonen Anregung des Komplexes [Ru(dpb)3]2+ gegen{\"u}ber dem Molek{\"u}l DCM selektiv kontrolliert werden. Wiederum diente die spontane Emission beider Substanzen als R{\"u}ckkopplungssignal f{\"u}r die Effektivit{\"a}t des Anregungsschritts. Verschiedene Ein-Parameter Kontrollmethoden, wie der Variation der Anregungswellenl{\"a}nge, der Intensit{\"a}t sowie des linearen Chirps, konnten diese Kontrollaufgabe nicht erf{\"u}llen. Jedoch konnte eine Optimierung des Verh{\"a}ltnisses der beiden Emissionsausbeuten mit Hilfe der adaptiven Pulsformung erzielt werden. Das Ergebnis dieses Experiments zeigt, dass photoinduzierte Prozesse in zwei unterschiedlichen molekularen Substanzen trotz der Wechselwirkungen der gel{\"o}sten Molek{\"u}le mit ihrer L{\"o}sungsmittelumgebung selektiv und simultan kontrolliert werden k{\"o}nnen. Das Ziel des dritten Experiments war eine gezielte Steuerung einer komplexeren chemischen Reaktion. Mit Hilfe der adaptiven Pulsformung konnte eine optimale Kontrolle der Photoisomerisierungsreaktion des Molek{\"u}ls NK88 demonstriert werden. Das dazu ben{\"o}tigte R{\"u}ckkopplungssignal f{\"u}r den evolution{\"a}ren Algorithmus wird durch transiente Absorptionsspektroskopie im UV/VIS Spektralbereich bereitgestellt. Eine Untersuchung der Dynamik der Isomerisierungsreaktion mit Hilfe der Pump-Probe Technik erlaubte eine Zuordnung zweier verschiedener Absorptionsbereiche zu den jeweiligen Isomeren. Die Ergebnisse der Optimierung des Verh{\"a}ltnisses der Quantenausbeuten der beiden Isomere zeigten, dass die geformten Laserpulse eine Kontrolle der Effizienz der Photoisomerisierung in der fl{\"u}ssigen Phase erm{\"o}glichen. Zusammenfassend kann man sagen, dass im Rahmen dieser Arbeit mit Hilfe der fs-Lasertechnologie und der Technik der adaptiven fs-Quantenkontrolle Experimente durchgef{\"u}hrt wurden, die einen wichtigen Beitrag zu dem neuen Forschungsbereich der Femtochemie darstellen. Die Erweiterung dieser Technik auf die fl{\"u}ssige Phase beschreibt einen ersten Erfolg in Richtung einer neuartigen Chemie.},
  subject      = {Ultrakurzer Lichtimpuls},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Pfeifer2004,
  author    = {Pfeifer, Thomas},
  title     = {Adaptive control of coherent soft X-rays},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-9854},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2004},
  abstract  = {The availability of coherent soft x-rays through the nonlinear optical process of high-harmonic generation allows for the monitoring of the fastest events ever observed in the laboratory. The attosecond pulses produced are the fundamental tool for the time-resolved study of electron motion in atoms, molecules, clusters, liquids and solids in the future. However, in order to exploit the full potential of this new tool it is necessary to control the coherent soft x-ray spectra and to enhance the efficiency of conversion from laser light to the soft x-ray region in the harmonic-generation process. This work developed a comprehensive approach towards the optimization of the harmonic generation process. As this process represents a fundamental example of \emph{light}--\emph{matter} interaction there are two ways of controlling it: Shaping the generating laser \emph{light} and designing ideal states of \emph{matter} for the conversion medium. Either of these approaches was closely examined. In addition, going far beyond simply enhancing the conversion process it could be shown that the qualitative spectral response of the process can be modified by shaping the driving laser pulse. This opens the door to a completely new field of research: Optimal quantum control in the attosecond soft x-ray region---the realm of electron dynamics. In the same way as it is possible to control molecular or lattice vibrational dynamics with adaptively shaped femtosecond laser pulses these days, it will now be feasible to perform real-time manipulation of tightly bound electron motion with adaptively shaped attosecond light fields. The last part of this work demonstrated the capability of the herein developed technique of coherent soft-x-ray spectral shaping, where a measured experimental feedback was used to perform a closed-loop optimization of the interaction of shaped soft x-ray light with a sulfur hexafluoride molecule to arrive at different control objectives. For the optimization of the high-harmonic-generation process by engineering the conversion medium, both the gas phase and the liquid phase were explored both in experiment and theory. Molecular media were demonstrated to behave more efficiently than commonly used atomic targets when elliptically polarized driving laser pulses are applied. Theory predicted enhancement of harmonic generation for linearly polarized driving fields when the internuclear distance is increased. Reasons for this are identified as the increased overlap of the returning electron wavefunction due to molecular geometry and the control over the delocalization of the initial electronic state leading to less quantum-mechanical spreading of the electron wavepacket during continuum propagation. A new experimental scheme has been worked out, using the method of molecular wavepacket generation as a tool to enhance the harmonic conversion efficiency in `pump--drive' schemes. The latter was then experimentally implemented in the study of high-harmonic generation from water microdroplets. A transition between the dominant laser--soft-x-ray conversion mechanisms could be observed, identifying plasma-breakdown as the fundamental limit of high-density high-harmonic generation. Harmonics up to the 27th order were observed for optimally laser-prepared water droplets. To control the high-harmonic generation process by the application of shaped laser light fields a laser-pulse shaper based on a deformable membrane mirror was built. Pulse-shape optimization resulted in increased high-harmonic generation efficiency --- but more importantly the qualitative shape of the spectral response could be significantly modified for high-harmonic generation in waveguides. By adaptive optimization employing closed-loop strategies it was possible to selectively generate narrow (single harmonics) and broad bands of harmonic emission. Tunability could be demonstrated both for single harmonic orders and larger regions of several harmonics. Whereas any previous experiment reported to date always produced a plateau of equally intense harmonics, it has been possible to demonstrate ``untypical'' harmonic soft x-ray spectra exhibiting ``switched-off'' harmonic orders. The high degree of controllability paves the way for quantum control experiments in the soft x-ray spectral region. It was also demonstrated that the degree of control over the soft x-ray shape depends on the high-harmonic generation geometry. Experiments performed in the gas jet could not change the relative emission strengths of neighboring harmonic orders. In the waveguide geometry, the relative harmonic yield of neighboring orders could be modified at high contrast ratios. A simulation based solely on the single atom response could not reproduce the experimentally observed contrast ratios, pointing to the importance of propagation (phase matching) effects as a reason for the high degree of controllability observed in capillaries, answering long-standing debates in the field. A prototype experiment was presented demonstrating the versatility of the developed soft x-ray shaping technique for quantum control in this hitherto unexplored wavelength region. Shaped high-harmonic spectra were again used in an adaptive feedback loop experiment to control the gas-phase photodissociation reaction of SF\$_6\$ molecules. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer was used for the detection of the ionic fragments. The branching ratios of particular fragmentation channels could be varied by optimally shaped soft x-ray light fields. Although in one case only slight changes of the branching ratio were possible, an optimal solution was found, proving the sufficient technical stability of this unique coherent soft-x-ray shaping method for future applications in optimal control. Active shaping of the spectral amplitude in coherent spectral regions of \$\sim\$10~eV bandwidth was shown to directly correspond to shaping the temporal features of the emerging soft x-ray pulses on sub-femtosecond time scales. This can be understood by the dualism of frequency and time with the Fourier transformation acting as translator. A quantum-mechanical simulation was used to clarify the magnitude of temporal control over the shape of the attosecond pulses produced in the high-harmonic-generation process. In conjunction with the experimental results, the first attosecond time-scale pulse shaper could thus be demonstrated in this work. The availability of femtosecond pulse shapers opened the field of adaptive femtosecond quantum control. The milestone idea of closed-loop feedback control to be implemented experimentally was expressed by Judson and Rabitz in their seminal work titled ``Teaching lasers to control molecules''. This present work extends and turns around this statement. Two fundamentally new achievements can now be added, which are ``Teaching molecules to control laser light conversion'' and ``Teaching lasers to control coherent soft x-ray light''. The original idea thus enabled the leap from femtosecond control of molecular dynamics into the new field of attosecond control of electron motion to be explored in the future. The \emph{closed}-loop approach could really \emph{open} the door towards fascinating new perspectives in science. Coming back to the introduction in order to close the loop, let us reconsider the analogy to the general chemical reaction. Photonic reaction control was presented by designing and engineering effective media (catalysts) and controlling the preparation of educt photons within the shaped laser pulses to selectively produce desired photonic target states in the soft x-ray spectral region. These newly synthesized target states in turn could be shown to be effective in the control of chemical reactions. The next step to be accomplished will be the control of sub-femtosecond time-scale electronic reactions with adaptively controlled coherent soft x-ray photon bunches. To that end a time-of-flight high-energy photoelectron spectrometer has recently been built, which will now allow to directly monitor electronic dynamics in atomic, molecular or solid state systems. Fundamentally new insights and applications of the nonlinear interaction of shaped attosecond soft x-ray pulses with matter can be expected from these experiments.},
  subject      = {Ultrakurzer Lichtimpuls},
  language  = {en}
}