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Unified parameter for localization in isotope-selective rotational excitation of diatomic molecules using a train of optical pulses

We obtained a simple theoretical unified parameter for the characterization of rotational population propagation of diatomic molecules in a periodic train of resonant optical pulses. The parameter comprises the peak intensity and interval between the pulses, and the level energies of the initial and final rotational states of the molecule. Using the unified parameter, we can predict the upper and lower boundaries of probability localization on the rotational level network, including the effect of centrifugal distortion. The unified parameter was tentatively derived from an analytical expression obtained by performing rotating-wave approximation and spectral decomposition of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation under an assumption of time-order invariance. The validity of the parameter was confirmed by comparison with numerical simulations for isotope-selective rotational excitation of KCl molecules.