Roland Wester
University of Freiburg
Monday, January 26, 2009
4:30 p.m.
Cardwell 102
Controlling Quantum Dynamics with Light Fields
Quantum control of atomic and molecular collision processes in the continuum is reaching an amazing degree of sophistication. On the one hand I will show how we use continuous and ultrafast lasers to join pairs of ultracold atoms together to form molecules. In this way we can also control their internal quantum states, which provides the starting conditions for quantum controlled interactions and many-body physics at ultralow temperatures. On the other hand I will present complementary views on the dynamics of complex few-body systems using time-resolved spectroscopy and kinematically complete momentum imaging. This has allowed us to unravel the dynamics of a fundamental chemical reaction in great detail. New optical control schemes for such complex continuum processes are currently being developed in my laboratory.