Vibronic Structures of the Ground and Excited Singlet Electronic States of Dimethylnaphthalenes Cooled in a Supersonic Jet

Abstract

Fluorescence excitation and dispersed fluorescence spectra of jet-cooled naphthalene and 2,6-, 2,7-dimethylnaphthalenes have been measured. The frequencies of optical active vibrations in the ground and first excited singlet states have been determined. The new technique for calculation of planar vibration frequencies of polycyclic benzenoid hydrocarbons in the excited electronic states has been developed. The vibration frequencies in the ground and first excited singlet states of these molecules were calculated using the developed technique and the Ohno's model. The interpretation of vibronic spectral lines based on the comparison of the calculated and experimental data was made. The calculation rms errors for the vibration frequencies in the ground electronic states of the investigated molecules do not exceed 20 cm^?1 and are approximately 1.5 times higher for excited states without additional adjustment of parameters for individual molecules.     

Comparative laser performances of pyrromethene 567 and rhodamine 6G dyes in copper vapour laser pumped dye lasers

Narrowband laser performances and photochemical stability of alcoholic solutions of pyrromethene 567 and rhodamine 6G dyes, under high-repetition rate copper vapour laser (at 510 nm), as well as, high-peak intensity Nd:YAG laser (at 532 nm) excitation have been investigated. We have observed that pyrromethene 567 dye solutions offer higher efficiency, wider tuning range, but lower photochemical stability and higher lasing threshold than that of rhodamine 6G dye solutions. An addition of about 100 mM DABCO, as a singlet oxygen quencher, in pyrromethene 567 dye solutions improved its photochemical stability close to that of rhodamine 6G. The observation of higher slope efficiency, in spite of higher threshold pump energy for pyrromethene 567 dye than that of rhodamine 6G dye solutions, was explained by a predictive model on gain characteristics of both dye solutions as a function of pump energy. PACS 42.55.Mv; 42.55.Rz; 42.70.Hj; 42.70.Jk     

Excitation of lowest electronic states of thymine by slow electrons

Excitation of lowest electronic states of the thymine molecules in the gas phase is studied by elec- tron energy loss spectroscopy. In addition to dipole-allowed transitions to singlet states, transitions to the lowest triplet states were observed. The low-energy features of the spectrum at 3.66 and 4.61 eV are identified with the excitation of the first triplet states 1₃ A′ (π → π*) and 1₃ A″ (n → π*). The higher-lying features at 4.96, 5.75, 6.17, and 7.35 eV are assigned mainly to the excitation of the π → π* transitions to the singlet states of the molecule. The excitation dynamics of the lowest states is studied. It is found that the first triplet state 1³ A′(π → π*) is most efficiently excited at a residual energy close to zero, while the singlet 2₁ A′(π → π*) state is excited with almost identical efficiency at different residual energies.     

Saturable absorption dynamics of DODCI

The saturable absorption dynamics of DODCI in a femtosecond dye laser is studied theoretically. The N-isomer and P-isomer photoisomerization dynamics is included. The wavelength region between 570 nm and 650 nm is considered where the N-isomer and P-isomer absorption dynamics changes from short-wavelength to long-wavelength s₀-s₁ excitation. The slow saturable absorber DODCI shortens a circulating pulse in a laser oscillator down to femtosecond duration if the gain medium compensates the absorber losses. Fast local relaxation in the S₁ -state in the case of short-wavelength excitation and fast level refilling in the S₀ -state in the case of long-wavelength excitation facilitate the pulse shortening and the background signal suppression.     

Manifestations de fréquence spatiale dans les spectres de dichroïsme et de biréfringence des gaz

A new version of the pump and probe technique at low excitation level is reported, measuring ultrafast dichroism at variable probe pulse frequencies. The method allows to distinguish rotational relaxation times in different electronic states and also gives information on vibronic relaxation of dye molecules. Experimental results on phenoxazone 9 and rhodamine 6G presented.     

Detection and characterization of single molecules in aqueous solution

Using a confocal microscope with a single-photon avalanche photodiode as detector, we studied photon bursts of single Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and Rhodamin B-zwitterion (RB) molecules in aqueous solution by excitation of the lowest excited singlet stateS ₁ with a frequency-doubled titanium: sapphire laser. Multichannel scaler traces, the fluorescence autocorrelation function and fluorescence decay times determined by time-correlated single-photon counting have been measured simultaneously. The time-resolved fluorescence signals were analyzed with a maximum likelihood estimator. Fluorescence lifetime patterns in steps of 100 ps were generated by convolution with the excitation pulse. The lifetime of theS ₁ state was derived from the Kullback-Leibler minimum discrimination information. We are able to demonstrate for the first time identification of two different single dye molecules via their characteristic fluorescence lifetimes of 1.79 ± 0.33 ns (RB) and 3.79 ± 0.38 ns (R6G) in aqueous solution.Dedicated to Prof. F. P. Schäfer on the occasion of his 65th birthday.On leave from Department of Physics, Mokwon University, Taejon, 301-729, Korea     

The LIF Excitation Spectrum of Jet-Cooled 2,6-Dicyano-3, 5-Dimethylaniline

The laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) excitation spectrum of jet-cooled 2, 6-dicyano-3,5-dimethylaniline (DCDMA) has been measured in the spectral range of 29,750–32,250cm^–1. The band origin at 29,860.8 cm^–1 and as many as 250 vibrational bands have been identified in the excitation spectrum. The analysis of the excitation spectrum of DCDMA gives more than 28 vibrational modes involving aromatic ring oscillations and oscillations related to the substituent groups. DCDMA is nonplanar in the ground state, with the NH₂ plane at about 9° with respect to the molecular plane (RHF/6-31G*). The singlet excited molecule is planar (CIS/6-31G*). Both CIS/6-31G* and CASPT2 calculations predict that the lowest excited state of DCDMA involves a dominant HOMO-LUMO excited configuration. The characteristic feature of the excitation spectrum of DCDMA is the presence of progressions in the low-frequency mode, 112 cm^–1. The calculations suggest that this mode and some other active modes involve motions of the amino group and strongly interacting adjacent cyano substituents.     

Theoretical analysis of pulse development in a colliding pulse mode-locked dye laser

The pulse development in colliding pulse mode-locked dye lasers is analysed theoretically. The chosen parameters belong to a c.w. argon laser pumped linear resonator arrangement with rhodamine 6G in ethylene glycol as gain medium and DODCI (3,3-diethyloxadicarbocyanine iodide) in ethylene glycol as saturable absorber. The pulse shortening and pulse broadening effects in the laser oscillator are investigated. The steady-state pulse duration is determined by equal pulse broadening and pulse shortening within a single resonator round-trip. The detuning of the absorber jet out of the middle position of the resonator is considered. Multiple transits through the resonator are simulated to study the influence of various resonator and dye parameters on the pulse development and the background signal suppression. Fast relaxations within theS ₁ andS ₀-state of DODCI are necessary for sufficient background suppression to obtain femtosecond pulse trains.     

Electron Energy Loss Under Scattering by Complex Organic Compound Vapors

Abstract

Low-energy electron scattering by anthracene and 1, 4-di 2-(5-phenyloxazolyl) -benzene (POPOP) vapors at low pressures is studied. The primary electron beam energy E_O was varied between 10 and 60 eV. The scattering angle was θ = 90°. It has been found that in the electron-energy-loss spectra, bands with maxima of 3·7 and 5·41 eV for anthracene, 4.02 and 7 eV for POPOP correspond to the S_O → S₁ and S_o → S₂ transitions. Low intensity electron-energy loss due to T₂ -states excitation has been observed in the region of 2·15 eV for anthracene and 2·54 eV for POPOP. From comparison with optical absorption spectra and analysis of spectra structure changes at different E_O the nature of other bands has been determined. From the obtained results it was concluded that the probability of T₁ -state excitation is low. It is shown that the main mechanism of populating the T₁ -state by electric methods of vapor pumping is the process of intersystem crossing.

The development of free complex molecule spectroscopy under electric excitation is hindered by the lack of systematic reliable information about elementary interactions of electrons and other particles with such molecules. When excited in electric discharge or by an electron beam, the complex molecule may be in both a neutral and an ionized state. The investigation of such nonequilibrium gas system presents great difficulties due to a large number of possible elementary processes responsible for excitation, ionization, recombination, dissociation of complex molecules. To develop a kinetic model of such a system, one must know a number of cross sections or rate constants of elastic and inelastic electron collisions with the complex molecule. Unfortunately, such data are practically unavailable.

The aim of the present paper is to obtain information about probabilities of complex molecule singlet and triplet states excitation in a gas phase as a result of collision with low-energy electrons (less than 50 eV).

Most accurate data on effective cross sections of molecule (atom) collisions with electrons are provided by using an electronic spectrometer in which an electron beam with small energy spread (of the order of tens of in electron-energy-loss spectra, S₂-state excitation cross sections have a considerably greater value.     

On the mechanism of rhodamine 6G fluorescence quenching

The fluorescence of the widely used TPF dye rhodamine 6G is quenched by photons of the ruby as well as the Nd-glass laser. Taking into consideration the polarisation of the ground- and excited-state absorptions of rhodamine 6G a simple model of quenching results. The main process is an S₁ absorption with subsequent leave of the ordinary rhodamine 6G singlet system. For Nd-laser photons the cross section of the concerned transition following from our quenching experiments is σS₁→S₂ = 1.2×10^-16 cm².     

Investigation of reactions from the highest excited states of molecules by fluorescent spectroscopy methods

The effect of the highest excited states on the yield of photoproducts that are usually formed upon excitation of the first singlet electronic state of polyatomic molecules is discussed. It is shown that the excitation of molecular objects through the highest singlet states can, in some cases, increase the yield of reaction products. This allows one to estimate the probabilities of reactions from the corresponding states. The consideration concerns a wide range of primary photoreactions, including the electronic density redistribution (the intramolecular electron transfer) in the excited state, the protolytic reactions, the intramolecular proton transfer (the phototautomerization), the hydrogen bond formation, and the formation of excimers and exciplexes. The relations obtained are used to analyze the experimental fluorescence spectra of 3-hydroxyflavone solutions, excited by electromagnetic radiation with different wavelengths in the region of the S ₁, S ₂, and S ₃ absorption bands. The analysis fulfilled shows that the highest singlet states play an important role in the formation of tautomers in 3-hydroxyflavone due to the intramolecular proton transfer.     

On estimating probability of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer

Higher singlet states can play an important role in various intramolecular processes. Recent investigations of the time-resolved (with a picosecond resolution) spectra of the dual fluorescence of 3-hydroxyflavone molecules excited in the region of the S ₁ and S ₂ absorption bands by pulses with a duration of ∼44 ps have directly shown the occurrence of the proton transfer from the carboxyl to the carbonyl group of the molecule upon excitation into the second singlet absorption band. The reaction times estimated from the emission characteristics are comparable with the electronic level lifetime (several picoseconds), as a result of which the direct measurements are rather difficult. The proton transfer through the S ₂ state is also recorded in the steady-state fluorescence excitation spectra. In this study, it is shown how the reaction rate can be estimated from these data.     

叶绿素A较高激发态的发光

采用激发样品表层和样品中心两种激发方式,在300K和77K温度下研究叶绿素A(Chla)的较高激发行为,观测到峰值位于493、520和580nm三条新的荧光发射带.分别测量它们的荧光激发光谱,证明这三条新的荧光带属于Chla的第二激发单线态向基态的不同振动能级的辐射跃迁发光.最后提出电子跃迁模型,同时进行了讨论.     

Collective spontaneous emission of dye molecules and lasing

The threshold pump power density for lasing in dye solutions is found to depend on the photon energy of pumping radiation. An increase in the pumping photon energy can significantly lower the threshold pump power of dye lasers. For an ethanol solution of rhodamine 6G with a concentration of 4×10¹⁸ cm^?3, the threshold power density for pumping radiation with a wavelength of 532 nm is 20-fold higher than for pumping radiation with a wavelength of 347 nm. This phenomenon is associated with the competition of collective spontaneous emission, which can lead to the efficient deactivation of excited molecules in femtosecond times, and the dephasing of excited molecules due to the intramolecular nonradiative processes of absorbed-energy conversion. An increase in the dephasing rate with the increasing energy of exciting photons lowers the efficiency of collective spontaneous emission and increases the concentration of dephased excited molecules responsible for lasing.     

ZnS:Ho3+的光谱特性

本工作系统地研究了Ho3+在ZnS中的光谱特性。利用不同激发波长的发射光谱、激发光谱和发光衰减鉴别出29000-14000cm-1范围内的激发谱线和发射谱线所对应的跃迁。共观察到5G5′,5G4,5G5,5G6,3K8,5F2,5F3和5S2八个4f能级的发射和5G6,5G5,3K7,3H6和5G3(3L9)五个4f能级的激发。由发射光强随温度的变化规律,研究了Ho3+的5G5′和5G4,5F3和5S2能级间的多声子弛豫过程以及5G6,3K3,5F2和5F3能级间的热平衡过程。通过近带边激发下的发光行为,提出Ho3+在ZnS中的近带边激发下发光是借助于能量传递过程,不同激发态借助不同的传递途径,而且不同的发光中心也具有不同的传递机制。     

Formation of fluorescence bands of polyatomic organic molecules in the gaseous phase upon excitation by electrons

Information on paths in absorption and deactivation of energy gained by molecules in their excitation by electron impact to low-lying singlet states has been obtained from an analysis of changes in the fluorescence spectra of these molecules. It is shown that there is a significant difference in the formation of fluorescence spectra when free molecules are excited by optical radiation and by electrons. It contrast to optical excitation, the interaction of an electron with a molecule is nonselective in character. All electronic states have a chance to be excited, which results in ensembles of emitting molecules with a different store of vibrational energy, and these ensembles each contribute to the fluorescence spectrum. Deceased. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 65, No. 2, pp. 216–223, March–April, 1998.     

Saturable absorbers with concentration-dependent absorption recovery time

The ground-state bleaching of highly concentrated rhodamine 6G solutions in methanol is studied with intense picosecond light pulses. The ground-state recovery time changes with concentration from about 3.9 ns at low concentration (10^–5 mol/dm³) to about 1 ps at high concentration (0.6 mol/dm³). The shortening of the absorption recovery time is determined by the concentration dependent quenching of theS ₁-state population due to unbound dimers and by the intensity dependent longitudinal and transverse amplified spontaneous emission.     

Chemical reactions of water molecules on Ru(0 0 0 1) induced by selective excitation of vibrational modes

Tunneling electrons in a scanning tunneling microscope were used to excite specific vibrational quantum states of adsorbed water and hydroxyl molecules on a Ru(0 0 0 1) surface. The excited molecules relaxed by transfer of energy to lower energy modes, resulting in diffusion, dissociation, desorption, and surface-tip transfer processes. Diffusion of H₂O molecules could be induced by excitation of the O-H stretch vibration mode at 445 meV. Isolated molecules required excitation of one single quantum while molecules bonded to a C atom required at least two quanta. Dissociation of single H₂O molecules into H and OH required electron energies of 1 eV or higher while dissociation of OH required at least 2 eV electrons. In contrast, water molecules forming part of a cluster could be dissociated with electron energies of 0.5 eV.     

Ultrafast time-resolved coherent degenerate four-wave-mixing spectroscopy for investigating molecular dynamics in different states

In this paper, ultrafast time-resolved coherent degenerate four-wave-mixing (DFWM) spectroscopy is performed to investigate molecular dynamics in the gaseous phase. Laser pulses lasting for 40 fs are used to create and monitor different vibrational eigenstates of iodine at room temperature (corresponding to a low saturation pressure of about 35 Pa). Using an internal time delay in the DFWM process resonant with the transition between the ground X-state and the excited B-state, the vibrational states of both the electronically excited and the ground states are detected as oscillations in the DFWM transient signal. The dynamics of either the electronically excited or ground state of iodine molecules obtained are consistent with the previous high temperature studies on the femtosecond time-resolved DWFM spectroscopy.     

Polymer optical fiber SERS sensor with gold nanorods

A surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensor is developed by etching polymer optical fiber and coating with gold nanorods. The SERS sensing experiments are demonstrated with the analyte molecules of rhodamine 6G (R6G) at 514.5 nm laser excitation. The results show that a strong fiber Raman background scattering overwhelm the R6G molecule Raman signal in common optrod configuration, but a distinct R6G SERS spectrum with 9 order magnitude enhancement can be observed while directly focusing light on the probe. Further modeling indicates the enhancement is attributed to both nanorods local field and their coupling.