Method and apparatus for the characterization and analysis of the shape of molecules and molecular clusters, and for the separation of desired isomers, based on Rydberg states

A method to characterize a shape of an isomeric form of a sample comprised of a molecule or a cluster of molecules, comprising:

• raising an electron of the sample to a Rydberg state having an orbital diameter sufficient to encompass at least a portion of the sample;
• further raising the electron to an ionization state;
• and
• correlating the energy required to transition from the Rydberg state to the ionization state with the three dimensional structure of the sample, further comprising determining a mass of the sample using a mass spectrometer.

A method to separate at least one isomeric form of a sample from other isomeric forms of the sample, where the sample is comprised of a molecule or a cluster of molecules, comprising:

• raising an electron of the sample to a Rydberg state having an orbital diameter sufficient to encompass at least a portion of the sample;
• further raising the electron to an ionization state;
• identifying the desired isomeric form of the sample from the energy required to transition from the Rydberg state to the ionization state;
• and
• in response to identifying the desired isomeric form of the sample, physically segregating the identified sample having the desired isomeric form from other samples having other isomeric forms.

Apparatus to separate at least one isomeric form of a sample from other isomeric forms of the sample, where the sample is comprised of a molecule or a cluster of molecules, comprising:

• an optical excitation system for raising an electron of the sample to a Rydberg state having an orbital diameter sufficient to encompass at least a portion of the sample, and for further raising the electron to an ionization state;
• means for identifying the desired isomeric form of the sample from the energy required to transition from the Rydberg state to the ionization state;
• and
• means, responsive to identifying the desired isomeric form of the sample, for physically segregating the identified sample having the desired isomeric form from other samples having other isomeric forms.

A method to detect an isomeric form of a sample comprised of a molecule or a cluster of molecules, comprising:

• providing a sample stream comprised of a population of sample ions, said population of sample ions comprising a plurality of isomeric forms of the sample;
• applying first optical excitation for raising electrons of individual sample ions of the sample stream to at least one Rydberg state having an orbital diameter that encompasses at least a portion of the sample ion;
• applying second optical excitation for raising the electrons from the Rydberg state to an ionization state, thereby generating photoelectrons;
• and
• responsive to detecting at least one photoelectron, correlating at least a wavelength of the second optical excitation with a predetermined isomeric form of the sample.

Apparatus to detect an isomeric form of a sample comprised of a molecule or a cluster of molecules, comprising:

• a sample stream generator providing a sample stream comprised of a population of sample ions, said population of sample ions comprising a plurality of isomeric forms of the sample;
• an optical system for applying first optical excitation for raising electrons of individual sample ions of the sample stream to at least one Rydberg state having an orbital diameter that encompasses at least a portion of the sample ion, and for applying second optical excitation for raising the electrons from the Rydberg state to an ionization state, thereby generating photoelectrons;
• and
• a detector system, responsive to photoelectrons, for correlating at least a wavelength of the second optical excitation with a predetermined isomeric form of the sample.

Apparatus to characterize a sample comprised of a plurality of molecules or clusters of molecules, comprising:

• sample stream generator means providing a sample stream comprised of a population of sample ions, said population of sample ions comprising a plurality of isomeric forms of the sample;
• excitation means for raising a sample ion electron to at least one Rydberg state having an orbital diameter that encompasses at least a portion of the sample ion, and for raising the sample ion electron from the at least one Rydberg state to an ionization state;
• and
• detector means, responsive to the sample ion electron being raised to the ionization state, for detecting the presence of a certain isomeric form of the sample.

Apparatus to characterize a sample comprised of a plurality of molecules or clusters of molecules, comprising:

• sample stream generator means providing a sample stream comprised of a population of sample ions, said population of sample ions comprising a plurality of isomeric forms of the sample;
• excitation means for raising a sample ion electron to at least one Rydberg state having an orbital diameter that encompasses at least a portion of the sample ion, and for raising the sample ion electron from the at least one Rydberg state to an ionization state;
• and
• detector means, responsive to the sample ion electron being raised to the ionization state, for detecting the presence of a certain isomeric form of the sample,
• further comprising means for determining the mass of the certain isomeric form of the sample.

Apparatus to characterize a sample comprised of a plurality of molecules or clusters of molecules, comprising:

• sample stream generator means providing a sample stream comprised of a population of sample ions, said population of sample ions comprising a plurality of isomeric forms of the sample;
• excitation means for raising a sample ion electron to at least one Rydberg state having an orbital diameter that encompasses at least a portion of the sample ion, and for raising the sample ion electron from the at least one Rydberg state to an ionization state;
• detector means, responsive to the sample ion electron being raised to the ionization state, for detecting the presence of a certain isomeric form of the sample;
• and
• means for segregating molecules or clusters of molecules having the certain isomeric form of the sample from molecules or clusters of molecules that do not have the certain isomeric form of the sample,
• where the certain isomeric form of the sample comprises molecules or clusters of molecules having a certain catalytic activity, and further comprising means for characterizing the catalytic activity of segregated molecules or clusters of molecules.

A method, comprising:

• applying first optical excitation to raise an electron of at least one molecule to a Rydberg state having an orbital diameter sufficient to encompass at least a portion of the at least one molecule;
• applying second optical excitation to transition the electron from the Rydberg state to an ionization state;
• and
• correlating the energy required to transition from the Rydberg state to the ionization state with a shape of the at least one molecule.

Apparatus, comprising:

• means for applying first optical excitation to raise an electron of at least one molecule to a Rydberg state having an orbital diameter sufficient to encompass at least a portion of the at least one molecule;
• means for applying second optical excitation to transition the electron from the Rydberg state to an ionization state;
• and
• means for correlating the energy required to transition from the Rydberg state to the ionization state with a shape of the at least one molecule.