Forced molecular rotation in an optical centrifuge

Intense linearly polarized light induces a dipole force that aligns an anis otropic molecule to the direction of the field polarization. Rotating the p olarization causes the molecule to rotate. Using femtosecond laser technolo gy, we accelerate the rate of rotation from 0 to 6 THz in 50 ps, spinning c hlorine molecules from near rest up to angular momentum states J similar to 420. At the highest spinning rate, the molecular bond is broken and the mo lecule dissociates.