The Theoretical and Computational Chemistry Program in the Chemistry Division is supporting a project at Clarkson University under the supervision of Dr. Larry Eno on the theoretical study of laser-induced transitions between electronic surfaces in reactive molecular collisions. The extent to which the laser field can be used as a probe of the dynamics of a collinear reaction is being studied with regard to variation in the laser intensity, field frequency, polarization, collision energy, internal energy, and other factors. Complications such as rotating wave breakdown and multi-electronic surface effects are being considered. %%% A major current problem in chemical physics is to obtain greater understanding of what actually happens during the course of a chemical reaction, i.e., during the short time in which reacting molecules approach each other, pass through an intermediate transition stage, and separate as products. This project is a theoretical investigation to determine how laser probes can be used to provide information during this brief period.
