Optimal control of classical molecular dynamics: A perturbation formulation and the existence of multiple solutions

This paper considers the prospect for there being multiple solutions to the control of classically modelled molecular dynamical systems. The research presented here follows up on a parallel study based on quantum mechanics. For polyatomic molecules it is generally expected that a classical mechanical model will be adequate and necessary as a means for designing optical fields for molecular control. The prospect for multiple control field solutions existing in this domain is important to establish in terms of ultimate laboratory realization of molecular control. A general formulation of the multiplicity problem is considered and the existence of a denumerably infinite number of solutions for the control field amplitude is shown to be the case under certain mild limitations on the physical variables.