Laser-induced alignment and orientation of quantum-state-selected large   molecules
  A strong inhomogeneous static electric field is used to spatially disperse a supersonic beam of polar molecules, according to their quantum state. We show that the molecules residing in the lowest-lying rotational states can be selected and used as targets for further experiments. As an illustration, we demonstrate an unprecedented degree of laser-induced 1D alignment $(<\cos^2\theta_{2D}>=0.97)$ and strong orientation of state-selected iodobenzene molecules. This method should enable experiments on pure samples of polar molecules in their rotational ground state, offering new opportunities in molecular science. 
Lotte Holmegaard, Jens H. Nielsen, Iftach Nevo, Henrik Stapelfeldt,   Frank Filsinger, Jochen K\"upper, Gerard Meijer