The motion of individual electrons in a molecule can be controlled Bashny.Net

Physics first able to track the movement of individual electrons in the molecule and show that these processes can be controlled. In the future, it will control the course of chemical reactions and biological processes to obtain the desired result of a number of possible options for the reaction of the same chemicals.

The study, conducted in ETH in Zurich with the participation of Doctor of Physics and Mathematics of the Moscow Physical-Technical Institute Oleg Tolstikhina and theorists from Denmark, Belgium and Canada, opublikovany October 22, 2015 Mr. journal Science.

As reported, the management of the movement of electrons by means of ultrashort laser pulses with a wavelength of 800 nanometers and 1300. Moving electrons have been observed in the spectrum of higher harmonics, arising from the interaction of the laser pulse with the molecule.



Using methods attofiziki, isslledovateli monitored the restructuring of the electron shell. This is a key process in understanding the chemical reaction as the redistribution of electrons corresponds to the formation of new chemical bonds.

The team, led by Hans Jakob Wörner from the ETH in Zurich earlier conducted a series of experiments that clearly demonstrate the possibility of such observations, and now researchers have made the final step: they are de facto tracked the movement of the electrons with a resolution of 100 attoseconds (1 attosecond = 10 <sup>-18 sup> seconds) and shown how to control the electrons.

Electrons in the experiment moved along the linear molecule yodatsetilena (HCCI), which are elongated chains of four atoms - hydrogen, two carbon atoms and an iodine atom. Under the action of laser pulses the electron shell configuration has changed: it has occurred for the vacant position of the electron. Under the action of the laser, a superposition of two quantum states of this "hole": it can be a chance to immediately detected at both ends of the molecule.



"We can control the movement of electrons in the molecule, which means that if this technology is developed, we are able to control the outcome of chemical reactions. For example, in a gas mixture, which can be a chemical reaction, its outcome may be one, or may be different. Shining "correct" laser c «correct" pulse shape, it can be one of the outcomes of the dominant », - explained Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Oleg Tolstikhin, co-author of scientific work.

According to Oleg Tolstikhin, scientific work can be used, in particular, the development of new medicines, "If you can control the outcome of a chemical reaction, you can create a material large molecules - any drug is a large molecule - which can usually be prepared by chemical reactions in trace amounts, and can be, for example, half the time to get the right stuff "- he said.

Source: geektimes.ru/post/264578/</sup>