Control of chemical reactions using external electric fields: The case of the LiNC⇌LiCN isomerization

Phase space geometry of isolated to condensed chemical reactions

The complexity of gas and condensed phase chemical reactions has generally been uncovered either approximately through transition state theories or exactly through (analytic or computational) integration of trajectories. These approaches can be improved by recognizing that the dynamics and associated geometric structures exist in phase space, ensuring that the propagator is symplectic as in velocity-Verlet integrators and by extending the space of dividing surfaces to optimize the rate variationally, respectively. The dividing surface can be analytically or variationally optimized in phase space, not just over configuration space, to obtain more accurate rates. Thus, a phase space perspective is of primary importance in creating a deeper understanding of the geometric structure of chemical reactions. A key contribution from dynamical systems theory is the generalization of the transition state (TS) in terms of the normally hyperbolic invariant manifold (NHIM) whose geometric phase-space structure persists under perturbation. The NHIM can be regarded as an anchor of a dividing surface in phase space and it gives rise to an exact non-recrossing TS theory rate in reactions that are dominated by a single bottleneck. Here, we review recent advances of phase space geometrical structures of particular relevance to chemical reactions in the condensed phase. We also provide conjectures on the promise of these techniques toward the design and control of chemical reactions.

Nonchaotic laser pulse dissociation through deformed tori

We consider the nonlinear classical dynamics of a diatomic molecule under the action of a laser field in the framework of the driven Morse oscillator model. We investigate the influence of the dipole function and the laser field on the deformations of the surviving, invariant tori. For intense and high-frequency fields, some invariant tori traverse the separatrix of motion, visiting both the bound and unbound regions of the interatomic potential. Based on this fact, we propose the use of appropriately designed laser pulses to induce dissociation of trajectories on such invariant tori. This mechanism constitutes a controlled nonchaotic route for dissociation, which is an alternative to chaotic multiphoton dissociation and to chirped pulse dissociation.

Selective photo-dissociative ionization of methane molecule with TDDFT study

Three dimensional calculation of control dynamics for finding the optimized laser filed is formulated using an iterative method and time-dependent density functional approach. An appropriate laser pulse is designed to control the desired products in the dissociation of methane molecule. The tailored laser pulse profile, eigenstate distributions and evolution of the efficient occupation numbers are predicted and exact energy levels of this five-atomic molecule is obtained. Dissociation rates of up to 78%, 80%, 90%, and 82% for CH₂⁺, CH⁺, C⁺ and C⁺⁺ are achieved. Based on the present approach one can reduce the controlling costs.

Semiclassical basis sets for the computation of molecular vibrational states

In this paper, we extend a method recently reported [F. Revuelta et al., Phys. Rev. E 87, 042921 (2013)] for the calculation of the eigenstates of classically highly chaotic systems to cases of mixed dynamics, i.e., those presenting regular and irregular motions at the same energy. The efficiency of the method, which is based on the use of a semiclassical basis set of localized wave functions, is demonstrated by applying it to the determination of the vibrational states of a realistic molecular system, namely, the LiCN molecule.

Frequency analysis of the laser driven nonlinear dynamics of HCN

We study the vibrational dynamics of a model for the HCN molecule in the presence of a monochromatic laser field. The variation of the structural behavior of the system as a function of the laser frequency is analyzed in detail using the smaller alignment index, frequency maps, and diffusion coefficients. It is observed that the ergodicity of the system depends on the frequency of the excitation field, especially in its transitions from and into chaos. This provides a roadmap for the possibility of bond excitation and dissociation in this molecule.

Solvated molecular dynamics of LiCN isomerization: All-atom argon solvent versus a generalized Langevin bath

The reaction rate rises and falls with increasing density or friction when a molecule is activated by collisions with the solvent particles. This so-called Kramers turnover has recently been observed in the isomerization reaction of LiCN in an argon bath. In this paper, we demonstrate by direct comparison with those results that a reduced-dimensional (generalized) Langevin description gives rise to similar reaction dynamics as the corresponding (computationally expensive) full molecular dynamics calculations. We show that the density distributions within the Langevin description are in direct agreement with the full molecular dynamics results and that the turnover in the reaction rates is reproduced qualitatively and quantitatively at different temperatures.

Deconstructing field-induced ketene isomerization through Lagrangian descriptors

Phase space contours (shown in color) constructed using the method of Lagrangian descriptors resolve the separatrices governing state transitions on the reaction-path potential energy surface (shown in white) for field-induced ketene isomerization.

Quantum control of isomerization by robust navigation in the energy spectrum

In this paper, we present a detailed study on the application of the quantum control technique of navigation in the energy spectrum to chemical isomerization processes, namely, CN-Li⇆ Li-CN. This technique is based on the controlled time variation of a Hamiltonian parameter, an external uniform electric field in our case. The main result of our work establishes that the navigation involved in the method is robust, in the sense that quite sizable deviations from a pre-established control parameter time profile can be introduced and still get good final results. This is specially relevant thinking of a experimental implementation of the method.

Using the small alignment index chaos indicator to characterize the vibrational dynamics of a molecular system: LiNC-LiCN

A study of the dynamical characteristics of the phase space corresponding to the vibrations of the LiNC-LiCN molecule using an analysis based on the small alignment index (SALI) is presented. SALI is a good indicator of chaos that can easily determine whether a given trajectory is regular or chaotic regardless of the dimensionality of the system, and can also provide a wealth of dynamical information when conveniently implemented. In two-dimensional (2D) systems SALI maps are computed as 2D phase space representations, where the SALI asymptotic values are represented in color scale. We show here how these maps provide full information on the dynamical phase space structure of the LiNC-LiCN system, even quantifying numerically the volume of the different zones of chaos and regularity as a function of the molecule excitation energy.

Environmental stability of quantum chaotic ratchets

The transitory and stationary behavior of a quantum chaotic ratchet consisting of a biharmonic potential under the effect of different drivings in contact with a thermal environment is studied. For weak forcing and finite ℏ, we identify a strong dependence of the current on the structure of the chaotic region. Moreover, we have determined the robustness of the current against thermal fluctuations in the very weak coupling regime. In the case of strong forcing, the current is determined by the shape of a chaotic attractor. In both cases the temperature quickly stabilizes the ratchet, but in the latter it also destroys the asymmetry responsible for the current generation. Finally, applications to isomerization reactions are discussed.