Project description
Controlling the motion of particles and waves of light and matter
The quantum world is an amazing place. While most of us are quite familiar with the dual nature of light as both particles (photons) and waves, the idea that all matter can behave as waves is an intriguing topic. On a macroscopic scale, we do not really notice the wave character of matter because the wavelengths of oscillations are very large. When it comes to electrons or nuclei, this wave character can be very important, and the interaction of light and matter becomes even more interesting. Electronic motion in molecules can be triggered by attosecond pulses of light, which in turn trigger nuclear motion. The EU-funded SICMA project is developing a quantum simulation code for this coupled electron-nuclear dynamics with an eye on harnessing laser control of the chemical interactions. The aim is to enhance the desired product yields from chemical reactions important to numerous industrial and biomedical applications.
Objective
The ability to control the movement of charge is at the heart of chemistry. With the birth of intense, ultrashort attosecond laser pulses, electronic wave packets can be created in molecules which induce nuclear motion. As a result, the observation and control of electron motion at the atomic level is becoming feasible, leading to the field of attochemistry. In this project, we will develop and use theoretical tools to investigate the potential of these modern light sources to probe and direct this charge migration induced molecular dynamics in chemically important polyatomic molecules. These elementary aspects of laser-matter interactions are governed by quantum mechanics and therefore we will solve the time-dependent Schrödinger equation using state-of-the-art quantum dynamics simulations to address the phenomenon. This will lead to a complete understanding of the underlying mechanism behind the coupled electron-nuclear motion and through a detailed comparison with other available semi-classical studies, a clear indication of their success or failure to theoretically describe such processes will be obtained. Following this, laser control schemes will be designed to enhance desired product yields from these chemical reactions. The key issues that we will address are: (i) Laser induced ultrafast charge migration in benzene and substituents, (ii) Charge migration in the photoinduced ring opening of cyclohexadiene to hexatriene, (iii) Coherent control of coupled electron-nuclear dynamics with attosecond laser pulses. Benzene is the building block of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the cyclohexadiene to hexatriene reaction plays an important role in the biosynthesis of vitamin D3 from its provitamin dehydrocholesterol. Thereby, each of these objectives has potential societal value and will increase the understanding of the molecular basis of these chemical/biological processes.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences quantum physics
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry hydrocarbons
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
WC1E 6BT London
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.