Interference is in the eye of the beholder: Application to the coherent control of collisional processes.

Interference is widely regarded as a foundational attribute of quantum mechanics. However, for a given experimental arrangement, interference can either contribute or not contribute to the outcome depending upon the basis in which it is measured. This observation is both foundational and particularly relevant to coherent control of molecular processes, an approach based upon quantum interference.

Coherent Control of Ultracold Molecular Collisions: The Role of Resonances.

We consider the coherent control of ultracold molecule-molecule scattering, impacted by a dense set of rovibrational resonances. To characterize the resonance spectrum, a rudimentary model based on multichannel quantum defect theory has been used to study the control of the scattering cross section and the reaction rate. Complete control around resonance energies is shown to be possible, but thermal averaging over a large number of resonances significantly reduces the extent of control of reaction rates related to the random distribution of optimal control parameters between resonances.

Complete Quantum Coherent Control of Ultracold Molecular Collisions.

We show that quantum interference-based coherent control is a highly efficient tool for tuning ultracold molecular collision dynamics that is free from the limitations of commonly used methods that rely on external electromagnetic fields. By varying the relative populations and phases of initial coherent superpositions of degenerate molecular states, we demonstrate complete coherent control over integral scattering cross sections in the ultracold s-wave regime of both the initial and final collision channels. The proposed control methodology is applied to ultracold O_{2}+O_{2} collisions, showing extensive control over s-wave spin-exchange cross sections and product branching ratios over many orders of magnitude.

Quantum effects in ultrafast electron transfers within cryptochromes.

Cryptochromes and photolyases are flavoproteins that may undergo ultrafast charge separation upon electronic excitation of their flavin cofactors. Charge separation involves chains of three or four tryptophan residues depending on the protein of interest. The molecular mechanisms of these processes are not completely clear.

Hyoid expansion as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea: a pilot study.

Objectives: Hyoid expansion is a novel procedure that was developed to widen and stabilize the lateral walls of the hypopharynx in order to improve obstructive sleep apnea. This study was conducted to evaluate the safety, efficacy and feasibility of hyoid expansion.

Study Design: A prospective, non-randomized multicenter pilot study with a follow-up of 6 months was conducted.