Nonadiabatic laser-induced alignment of iodobenzene molecules

The alignment dynamics of an asymmetric top molecule was studied using a combination of quantum dynamical theory and time-resolved photofragment imaging. The alignment dynamics characterized by the angular distribution of molecular orientation and by the expectation value of <cos²θ>, was computed and measured at different intensities and for different rotational temperatures. The alignment was observed to have reached to maximum after the laser pulse under field free conditions. It was found that time delay between the pulse and the alignment maxima, as well as the temporal duration of the alignment prior to dephasing was controllable, through choice of the pulse duration and intensity.