Propensity of molecules to spatially align in intense light fields - art. no. 045401

The propensity of molecules to spatially align along the polarization vecto r of intense, pulsed light fields is related to readily accessible paramete rs (molecular polarizability, moment of inertia, peak intensity, and pulse duration of the light). It is possible to predict which molecules can be sp atially aligned, and under what circumstances, upon exposure to intense lig ht. Accounting for both enhanced ionization and hyperpolarizability, it is shown that all molecules can be aligned, even those with the smallest stati c polarizability, when subjected to ultrashort pulses of sufficient intensi ty.