Controlling rotationally-resolved two-dimensional infrared spectra with polarization

Abstract: Recent advancements in infrared frequency combs will enable recording of coherent two-dimensional infrared spectra of gas-phase molecules with rotational resolution (RR2DIR). We describe how RR2DIR spectra can be controlled with polarization to enhance or suppress certain features of the spectrum, with new polarization conditions unique to freely rotating molecules and absent in the condensed-phase. With the polarization control methods described here, RR2DIR spectroscopy can be a powerful tool for studying complex gas mixtures of polyatomic molecules.