QUANTUM CONTROL OF CHEMICAL-REACTIONS

Coherent control provides a quantum-interference based method for cont rolling chemical reactions. This theory, and its applications to a var iety of processes, including branching photodissociation reactions (of such systems as IBr, DOH and Na-2) and symmetry breaking (in such mol ecules as H2O) leading to the possibility of asymmetric synthesis of c hiral products, are reviewed. Computations based on the control scenar ios amply demonstrate that a wide range of yield control is possible u nder suitable laboratory conditions and a recent experiment on the con trol of the Na(3d)/Na(3p) product ratio in the Na-2 two-photon dissoci ation reviewed here proves this point. Theoretical suggestions for con trolling bimolecular exchange reactions and other collisional events, via intervention during the collision event (laser catalysis), or befo re it (pre-reaction control), are discussed.