Induction of unidirectional π-electron rotations in low-symmetry aromatic ring molecules using two linearly polarized stationary lasers.

A new laser-control scenario of unidirectional π-electron rotations in a low-symmetry aromatic ring molecule having no degenerate excited states is proposed. This scenario is based on dynamic Stark shifts of two relevant excited states using two linearly polarized stationary lasers. Each laser is set to selectively interact with one of the two electronic states, the lower and higher excited states are shifted up and down with the same rate, respectively, and the two excited states become degenerate at their midpoint. One of the four control parameters of the two lasers, i.e. two frequencies and two intensities, determines the values of all the other parameters. The direction of π-electron rotations, clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation, depends on the sign of the relative phase of the two lasers at the initial time. An analytical expression for the time-dependent expectation value of the rotational angular momentum operator is derived using the rotating wave approximation (RWA). The control scenario depends on the initial condition of the electronic states. The control scenario with the ground state as the initial condition was applied to toluene molecules. The derived time-dependent angular momentum consists of a train of unidirectional angular momentum pulses. The validity of the RWA was checked by numerically solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The simulation results suggest an experimental realization of the induction of unidirectional π-electron rotations in low-symmetry aromatic ring molecules without using any intricate quantum-optimal control procedure. This may open up an effective generation method of ring currents and current-induced magnetic fields in biomolecules such as amino acids having aromatic ring molecules for searching their interactions.

The generation of stationary π-electron rotations in chiral aromatic ring molecules possessing non-degenerate excited states.

The electron angular momentum is a fundamental quantity of high-symmetry aromatic ring molecules and finds many applications in chemistry such as molecular spectroscopy. The stationary angular momentum or unidirectional rotation of π electrons is generated by the excitation of a degenerated electronic excited state by a circularly-polarized photon. For low-symmetry aromatic ring molecules having non-degenerate states, such as chiral aromatic ring molecules, on the other hand, whether stationary angular momentum can be generated or not is uncertain and has not been clarified so far. We have found by both theoretical treatments and quantum optimal control (QOC) simulations that a stationary angular momentum can be generated even from a low-symmetry aromatic ring molecule. The generation mechanism can be explained in terms of the creation of a dressed-state, and the maximum angular momentum is generated by the dressed state with an equal contribution from the relevant two excited states in a simple three-electronic state model. The dressed state is formed by inducing selective nonresonant transitions between the ground and each excited state by two lasers with the same frequency but having different polarization directions. The selective excitation can be carried out by arranging each photon-polarization vector orthogonal to the electronic transition moment of the other transition. We have successfully analyzed the results of the QOC simulations of (P)-2,2'-biphenol of axial chirality in terms of the analytically determined optimal laser fields. The present findings may open up new types of chemical dynamics and spectroscopy by utilizing strong stationary ring currents and current-induced magnetic fields, which are created at a local site of large compounds such as biomolecules.

Quantum Localization of Coherent π-Electron Angular Momentum in (P)-2,2'-Biphenol.

Controlling π-electrons with delocalized character is one of the fundamental issues in femtosecond and attosecond chemistry. Localization of π-electron rotation by using laser pulses is expected to play an essential role in nanoscience. The π-electron rotation created at a selected aromatic ring of a single molecule induces a local intense electromagnetic field, which is a new type of ultrafast optical control functioning. We propose a quantum localization of coherent π-electron angular momentum in (P)-2,2'-biphenol, which is a simple, covalently linked chiral aromatic ring chain molecule. The localization considered here consists of sequential two steps: the first step is to localize the π-electron angular momentum at a selected ring of the two benzene rings, and the other is to maintain the localization. Optimal control theory was used for obtaining the optimized electric fields of linearly polarized laser pulses to realize the localization. The optimal electric fields and the resultant coherent electronic dynamics are analyzed.

Quantum switching of π-electron rotations in a nonplanar chiral molecule by using linearly polarized UV laser pulses.

Nonplanar chiral aromatic molecules are candidates for use as building blocks of multidimensional switching devices because the π electrons can generate ring currents with a variety of directions. We employed (P)-2,2'-biphenol because four patterns of π-electron rotations along the two phenol rings are possible and theoretically determine how quantum switching of the π-electron rotations can be realized. We found that each rotational pattern can be driven by a coherent excitation of two electronic states under two conditions: one is the symmetry of the electronic states and the other is their relative phase. On the basis of the results of quantum dynamics simulations, we propose a quantum control method for sequential switching among the four rotational patterns that can be performed by using ultrashort overlapped pump and dump pulses with properly selected relative phases and photon polarization directions. The results serve as a theoretical basis for the design of confined ultrafast switching of ring currents of nonplanar molecules and further current-induced magnetic fluxes of more sophisticated systems.

Franck-Condon simulation of the A1B2→X1A1 dispersed fluorescence spectrum of fluorobenzene and its rate of the internal conversion.

By using three different hybrid exchange-correlation functionals containing 20%, 35%, and 50% of exact Hartree-Fock (HF) exchange of the density functional theory and its time-dependent extension plus the Hartree-Fock and the configuration interaction of single excitation methods, equilibrium geometries, and their 30 vibrational-normal-mode frequencies of the ground S(0)((1)A(1)) and the first excited S(1)((1)B(2)) states of fluorobenzene (FB) were calculated. The dispersed fluorescence spectrum and internal conversion (IC) rate of the A(1)B(2)→X(1)A(1) transition were simulated by Franck-Condon (FC) calculations within the displaced harmonic oscillator approximation plus anharmonic and distorted corrections. The simulated spectral profile is primarily described by the Franck-Condon progression from the ring-breathing modes ν(9) and ν(10) which belong to totally symmetry modes. Anharmonic corrections simultaneously improve the intensity order of 9(1)(0) and 10(1)(0) bands and diminish 1(1)(0) transition that is fairly strong in harmonic simulations. It is concluded that the amount of Hartree-Fock exchange does impact the geometries and vibrational frequencies of FB molecule, but not the relative intensities of the transitions. It is anharmonic corrections that make the relative intensities of the transitions in good agreement with experimental results. Distorted corrections could assign most of the dominant overtones of out-of-plane nontotally symmetry modes, and the results agree well with the experimental assignments. Furthermore, it was found that the internal conversion rate is dominated by three promoting modes that are computed with lowing symmetry to C(1). By choosing dephasing width as 10 cm(-1) that is consistent with spectral simulation, we obtained the lifetimes of the A(1)B(2)→X(1)A(1) de-excitation as 11 and 19 ns, respectively, from TD(B3LYP) and HF∕CIS calculations in comparison with the experimental value 14.75 ns.

A theoretical study on the spectroscopy and the radiative and non-radiative relaxation rate constants of the S(0)(1)A(1)-S(1)(1)A(2) vibronic transitions of formaldehyde.

We have carried out a close examination on the mathematical treatments and the first-principle computations concerning the vibronic transitions between the S(0)(1)A(1) and the S(1)(1)A(2) states of formaldehyde. The simulation of absorption spectrum was presented with peak intensities calculated according to vibronic-coupled transition dipole moments and Franck-Condon factors. The radiative and non-radiative transition rate constants from the excited to the ground states were calculated with formulas based on Fermi's golden rule. It is concluded that our simulated absorption spectrum between 300 and 360 nm, as well as the estimated relaxation rate constants, showed good agreements with experimental reports.

Quantum dynamics of light-driven chiral molecular motors.

The results of theoretical studies on quantum dynamics of light-driven molecular motors with internal rotation are presented. Characteristic features of chiral motors driven by a non-helical, linearly polarized electric field of light are explained on the basis of symmetry argument. The rotational potential of the chiral motor is characterized by a ratchet form. The asymmetric potential determines the directional motion: the rotational direction is toward the gentle slope of the asymmetric potential. This direction is called the intuitive direction. To confirm the unidirectional rotational motion, results of quantum dynamical calculations of randomly-oriented molecular motors are presented. A theoretical design of the smallest light-driven molecular machine is presented. The smallest chiral molecular machine has an optically driven engine and a running propeller on its body. The mechanisms of transmission of driving forces from the engine to the propeller are elucidated by using a quantum dynamical treatment. The results provide a principle for control of optically-driven molecular bevel gears. Temperature effects are discussed using the density operator formalism. An effective method for ultrafast control of rotational motions in any desired direction is presented with the help of a quantum control theory. In this method, visible or UV light pulses are applied to drive the motor via an electronic excited state. A method for driving a large molecular motor consisting of an aromatic hydrocarbon is presented. The molecular motor is operated by interactions between the induced dipole of the molecular motor and the electric field of light pulses.

Theoretical design of an aromatic hydrocarbon rotor driven by a circularly polarized electric field.

An aromatic hydrocarbon rotor without functional groups is theoretically designed. Such a molecular rotor is free from long-range electrostatic interactions. Induced dipole interactions are the rotor-driving forces under a nonresonant excitation condition. As an example, a molecular rotor with a condensed aromatic ring, a pentacene moiety mounted on a phenyl-acetylene axle that is driven by a circularly polarized electric field is considered. Results of simulations of the quantum dynamics of a rotor that take into account short-range rotor-bath interactions are presented by numerically solving the density matrix equations of the rotational motions.

Quantum control of a chiral molecular motor driven by laser pulses.

"Molecular motors or machines" are one of the hot subjects in chemistry because they play an important role in molecular devices. We have theoretically demonstrated that unidirectional rotations of a chiral molecular motor can be driven by using tailored linearly polarized laser pulses. The findings obtained here serve as a theoretical basis for control of functions such as gearing or acceleration of molecular motors.