摘要 |
A method for the controlled nanometer-scale deposition of molecules on a surface, by means of coherently controlled optical focusing. The coherent control is conveniently performed by inducing a linear superposition of molecular bound states, by means of electromagnetic fields supplied by an applied laser beam. The optical focusing is conveniently performed by passing a beam of such suitably prepared molecules through another electromagnetic field supplied by a standing wave induced by two interacting laser beams. Altering the characteristics of the laser beams alters the forces operating on the molecules, thus directing them to the desired position on the surface. Selection of the frequencies, intensities, and relative phases of the electromagnetic fields, as well as the geometry of the interaction between the molecular beam and the electromagnetic fields, enables deposition of aperiodic molecular patterns on the surface with a resolution of 10 to 15 nanometers. Such nanoscale focusing of molecules by coherent light can be used for executing nanometric molecular lithographic processes.
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