Research
The general aim of our research is to obtain a better
understanding of
the microscopic processes in chemical reactions and, thereby, to enable
control of such reactions using external laser fields. Our work is
focused on the theoretical description and simulation of the
fundamental steps of chemical reactions which are being either
experimentally or theoretically investigated.
The chemical and physical processes of interest are characterized using
either physical models or quantum chemical methods. The main focus is
the time evolution of the model system and the control of the dynamics
using laser pulses. The molecular and/or electron dynamics are
simulated by first principle quantum dynamical calculations.
Furthermore, laser control mechanisms are developed in order to control
the outcome of the reactions.
My current investigations are mainly aimed at the control of molecular
chirality using ultrashort laser pulses. As model systems serve axial
chiral organic molecules in gas phase or on surfaces. The goal is the
development of laser-driven chiral molecular switches for the calalytic
control of stereo-selective reactions and for purposes in
nanotechnology such as light controlled data storages or molecular
machines.
Recent topics are:
-
Theoretical Spectroscopy:
-
Biosystems:
- Role of the enviroment in biosystems 29
- (Time-dependent) vibronic/Resonance Raman spectra of biomolecules 24 30 31
-
Polymers:
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of polymers 26 33
- Electronic characterization of hole-transporting polymers in PLEDs 27
-
Chiral molecules:
- Circular dichroism in mass spectrometry 25 28
-
-
Femtochemistry: Control of molecular chirality
- Laser-operated chiral molecular switches 19 21 22 32
- Stereo-selective laser control of axial chiral molecules 8 9 12 18
- Selective preparation of a pure enantiomer from a racemate by laser pulses 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 PhD thesis
-
Surface Science: Photo-induced desorption
-
Nanoscience: Molecular switches and rotors