Long & Medium-Term Research: Quantum Mechanical Study of Photodissociation Dynamics in Three Dimensions This award is under the Program for Long-& Medium Term Research at Foreign Centers of Excellence, which enables U.S. scientists and engineers to conduct three to twelve months of research abroad at research centers of proven excellence. The program's awards provide opportunities for joint research, and the use of unique or complementary facilities, expertise and experimental conditions abroad. This award will support a twelve-month postdoctoral research visit by Dr. Janet Waldeck of the University of Pittsburgh with Dr. Moshe Shapiro of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel. The researchers plan to develop a fully three-dimensional quantum mechanical method for calculating photodissociation branching ratios. An understanding of the natural photodissociation dynamics is essential to devising experimental schemes by which electronic branching can be controlled. Recently, Dr. Shapiro developed a theory for coherent control of reactions which relies on the fact that control over reaction yield can occur via quantum interference induced by using several independent optical routes to the same energy E. In order to apply their findings more readily to experimental spectra, they will examine the conditions under which quantum features found in the collinear case of coherent control survive 3D averaging. The award recommendation provides funds to cover interna- tional travel, dependent's allowance, local travel abroad and a flat administrative allowance of $250 for the U.S. home institution.
