Selective excitation of the vibrational-rotational states and dissociation of diatomic molecules by picosecond infrared laser pulses: Modeling for HF in the ground electronic state

Complete, close to 100%, population transfer between the bound vibrational-rotational states of the NF molecule in the ground electronic state is demonstrated on a picosecond time scale by means of computer simulation within the Schrodinger wave-function formalism. The laser-induced dissociation from selectively prepared moderately high vibrational-ratational states is shown to be very efficient, with the dissociation probability approaching 100%. These processes are controlled by sin(2)-shaped linearly polarized picosecond laser pulses in the infrared domain. [S1050-2947(99)05003-9].