Femtosecond laser induced and controlled chemical reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen

Abstract

Results from experiments aimed at bimolecular chemical reaction control of CO and H2 at room temperature and pressure, without any catalyst, using shaped femtosecond laser pulses are presented. A stable reaction product (CO2) was measured after irradiation by near transform limited pulses, using time of flight mass spectroscopy and confirmed by gas chromatography. This product is confirmed to only be formed when H2 is also present in the reaction cell. There is also evidence for C-H and C-C bond formation. the authors also present coherent control experimental results from low pressure time of flight mass spectrometer and the idea that such optimized pulses could be applied to a high pressure reaction cell is a new concept. Although control in this scenario is indirect, through the breaking of bonds and the selective generation of specific ion fragments, the extreme cases of varying intensity and applying an anti-optimum pulse provide evidence that this concept may be useful in chemical reaction control efforts.