OPTICAL DEFLECTION OF MOLECULES

When intense light interacts with a molecule it induces a force propor tional to the gradient of the Stark shift. We use this nonresonant for ce to deflect I-2 and CS2 molecules. We trace the direction of molecul es in a molecular beam, showing that the molecules that pass near the center of a 1.06-mu m or 10.6-mu m laser beam will focus. We predict t hat Stark shifts on the order of 50 meV can be obtained for all small molecules and atoms while maintaining ionization rates below 10(6) s(- 1). Among the devices that can be based on the nonresonant Stark shift are molecular accelerators and molecular quantum wires.