Optical Centrifuge for Molecules

Strong infrared fields can be used for controlled spinning of molecules to very high angular momentum states. The angular momentum acquired can be sufficient to break molecular bonds. The approach is suitable for all anisotropic molecules, and we illustrate it by dissociating a homonuclear diatomic Cl₂, with optical centrifuge efficiently separating Cl³⁵ and Cl³⁷ isotopes and thus demonstrating high sensitivity to the moment of inertia.