Prospects for all-optical alignment and quantum state control of nonpolar molecules

We have demonstrated Autler-Townes splitting in molecular lithium using continuous wave triple resonance spectroscopy. The Autler-Townes split double resonance lineshape consists of a superposition of several narrower twin peaks, one for each |M_J|. The splitting is proportional to |M_J| enabling separation of the individual M_J peaks. Thus, excitation of an individual magnetic sublevel can be used to align the angular momentum of nonpolar molecules all-optically. We also propose a novel quantum control scheme based on using a coupling laser to create dressed states of controllable molecular character. Preliminary calculations are presented for variable singlet triplet character.