SHAPING MOLECULAR-BEAMS WITH INTENSE LIGHT

We discuss the possibility of manipulating the center-of-mass motion o f molecules using the nonlinear interaction of a moderately intense, l ong-pulse laser field with the molecular polarizability tenser. Recent theoretical work demonstrating the possibility of focusing and trappi ng molecules is extended to consider the effects of circularly and ell iptically polarized light and the effect of nonspherical laser optics. The aberrations affecting the quality of the ''molecular lens'' are a nalyzed and the means by which they can be minimized are discussed. Mo lecular focusing is extended to a general field of molecular optics; t he possibilities of steering, reflecting, and collimating molecular be ams are illustrated. Application of the mechanical force of light to d isperse and separate species according to their mass, velocity, or qua ntum state is proposed. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.