Laser Control of Single and Double Proton Transfer Reactions

Theory and simulation of laser control of single and double proton transfer reactions in hydrogen-bonded molecular systems are reviewed. Different approaches to the construction of potential energy surfaces are introduced as a means to design simple models for unraveling basic mechanistic principles of laser control. Obtaining the control laser field is the central task and various methods such as optimal control theory are outlined. Applications are presented for the infrared laser-driven single proton transfer in models of thioacetylacetone and acetylacetone as well as for the double proton transfer in porphycene derivatives.