Quantum Control of Coherent π-Electron Dynamics in Chiral Aromatic Molecules

Control of mobile π-electrons is one of the fundamental issues in the organic optoelectronics for designing the next generation ultrafast switching devices. The optimal control simulations of coherent π-electron rotations in (P)-2,2'-biphenol, which is the typical nonplanar aromatic molecule with axial chirality, were performed by taking into account two types of the control targets: one is generation of the maximum π-angular momentum, and the other is the maintaining of the generated unidirectional angular momentum during a setting time duration. The optimal control pulse for each target is designed. The analysis of the simulation results shows that the effective maintaining of the unidirectional angular momentum can be realized by applying 2π pulse to one of the electronic excited states forming the coherent electronic state. The 2π pulse prevents the reverse rotation of the π-electrons by dumping the excited state population to the ground state and subsequently by pumping the population back to the excited state. The present results provide a theoretical basis for the designing next generation ultrafast switching devices made by organic aromatic molecules. Optimal control simulations of coherent π-electron rotations in (P)-2,2'-biphenol with axial chirality were performed considering two types of the control targets: generation of the maximum π-angular momentum and the maintaining the generated unidirectional angular momentum during a given duration. The present results provide a theoretical basis for designing next generation ultrafast organic switching devices.