Control of quantum localization and classical diffusion in laser-kicked molecular rotors

Abstract: We experimentally study a system of quantum kicked rotors - an ensemble of diatomic molecules exposed to a periodic sequence of ultrashort laser pulses. In the regime, where the underlying classical dynamics is chaotic, we investigate the quantum phenomenon of dynamical localization by means of state-resolved coherent Raman spectroscopy. We examine the dependence of the exponentially localized angular momentum distribution and of the total rotational energy on the time period between the pulses and their amplitude. The former parameter is shown to provide control over the localization center, whereas the latter one controls the localization length. Similar control of the center and width of a nonlocalized rotational distribution is demonstrated in the limit of classical diffusion, established by adding noise to the periodic pulse sequence.