Femtosecond Time-Resolved Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy of the S(2) (1B(u)) Excited State of beta-Carotene

The electronic and vibrational structure of beta-carotene's early excited states are examined using femtosecond time-resolved stimulated Raman spectroscopy. The vibrational spectrum of the short-lived ( approximately 160 fs) second excited singlet state (S(2),1B(u) (+))of beta-carotene is obtained. Broad, resonantly enhanced vibrational features are observed at approximately 1100, 1300, and 1650 cm(-1) that decay with a time constant corresponding to the electronic lifetime of S(2). The temporal evolution of the vibrational spectra are consistent with significant population of only two low-lying excited electronic states (1B(u) (+) and 2A(g) (-)) in the ultrafast relaxation pathway of beta-carotene.     

1B2(1Sigma(u)+) excited state decay dynamics in CS2

The authors report time resolved photoelectron spectra of the (1)B(2)((1)Sigma(u) (+)) state of CS(2) at pump wavelengths in the region of 200 nm. In contrast to previous studies, the authors find that the predissociation dynamics is not well described by a single exponential decay. Biexponential modeling of the authors' data reveals a rapid decay pathway (tau<50 fs), in addition to a longer lived channel (tau approximately 350-650 fs) that displays a marked change in apparent lifetime when the polarization of the pump laser is rotated with respect to that of the probe. Since the initially populated (1)B(2)((1)Sigma(u) (+)) state may decay to form either S((1)D) or S((3)P) products (the latter produced via a spin-orbit induced crossing from a singlet to a triplet electronic surface), this lifetime observation may be rationalized in terms of changes in the relative ionization cross section of these singlet and triplet states of CS(2) as a function of laser polarization geometry. The experimentally observed lifetime of the longer lived channel is therefore a superposition of these two pathways, both of which decay on very similar time scales.     

2-Aminopurine excited state electronic structure measured by stark spectroscopy

2-Aminopurine (2AP) is an adenine analogue that has a high fluorescence quantum yield. Its fluorescence yield decreases significantly when the base is incorporated into DNA, making it a very useful real-time probe of DNA structure. However, the basic mechanism underlying 2AP fluorescence quenching by base stacking is not well understood. A critical element in approaching this problem is obtaining an understanding of the electronic structure of the excited state. We have explored the excited state properties of 2AP and 2-amino,9-methylpurine (2A9MP) in frozen solutions using Stark spectroscopy. The experimental data were correlated with high level ab initio (MRCI) calculations of the dipole moments, mu0 and mu1, of the ground and excited states. The magnitude and direction of the dipole moment change, Deltamu01 = mu1 - mu0, of the lowest energy optically allowed transition was determined. While other studies have reported on the magnitude of the dipole moment change, we believe that this is the first report of the direction of Deltamu, a quantity that will be of great value in interpreting absorption spectral changes of the 2AP chromophore. Polarizability changes due to the transition were also obtained.     

Quantum theory of (femtosecond) time-resolved stimulated Raman scattering

We present a complete perturbation theory of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), which includes the new experimental technique of femtosecond stimulated Raman scattering (FSRS), where a picosecond Raman pump pulse and a femtosecond probe pulse simultaneously act on a stationary or nonstationary vibrational state. It is shown that eight terms in perturbation theory are required to account for SRS, with observation along the probe pulse direction, and they can be grouped into four nonlinear processes which are labeled as stimulated Raman scattering or inverse Raman scattering (IRS): SRS(I), SRS(II), IRS(I), and IRS(II). Previous FSRS theories have used only the SRS(I) process or only the "resonance Raman scattering" term in SRS(I). Each process can be represented by an overlap between a wave packet in the initial electronic state and a wave packet in the excited Raman electronic state. Calculations were performed with Gaussian Raman pump and probe pulses on displaced harmonic potentials to illustrate various features of FSRS, such as high time and frequency resolution; Raman gain for the Stokes line, Raman loss for the anti-Stokes line, and absence of the Rayleigh line in off-resonance FSRS from a stationary or decaying v=0 state; dispersive line shapes in resonance FSRS; and the possibility of observing vibrational wave packet motion with off-resonance FSRS.     

Vibrational spectroscopy and dynamics in the CH-stretch region of fluorene by IVR-assisted, ionization-gain stimulated Raman spectroscopy

We report stimulated Raman spectra at 0.2 and 0.03 cm(-1) resolution in the CH-stretching region of jet-cooled fluorene. The results were obtained by a version of ionization-gain stimulated Raman spectroscopy in which resonant two-photon ionization probing of the state-population changes arising from stimulated Raman transitions is assisted by the process of intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR) in the Raman-excited molecule. The fluorene spectra reveal extensive vibrational coupling interactions involving both the aliphatic and aromatic CH-stretching first excited states with nearby background states. Results pertaining to the symmetric aliphatic CH-stretching fundamental are consistent with a tier model of IVR and point to vibrational energy flow out of the CH stretch on a approximately 1 ps time scale with subsequent redistribution on a approximately 5 ps time scale.     

The C(2)1pi(u) state of Na2 molecule studied by polarization labelling spectroscopy method

The C1pi(u) <-- X1sigma(g)+ system of Na2 is studied by the polarization labelling spectroscopy technique. Accurate molecular constants are derived for the observed levels nu = 0-12, J = 12-100 in the C1pi(u) state.     

Vibrational spectra of the excited electronic state of rhodamine molecules obtained by cars spectroscopy

CARS spectra of the ground and an excited electronic state of rhodamine dyes are observed under two different resonance conditions using nanosecond dye lasers The observed differences are not due to structural changes.     

Exploring the Franck–Condon region of a photoexcited charge transfer complex in solution to interpret femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy: excited state electronic structure methods to unveil non-radiative pathways

We present electronic structure methods to unveil the non-radiative pathways of photoinduced charge transfer (CT) reactions that play a main role in photophysics and light harvesting technologies. A prototypical π-stacked molecular complex consisting of an electron donor (1-chloronaphthalene, 1ClN) and an electron acceptor (tetracyanoethylene, TCNE) was investigated in dichloromethane solution for this purpose. The characterization of TCNE:π:1ClN in both its equilibrium ground and photoinduced low-lying CT electronic states was performed by using a reliable and accurate theoretical–computational methodology exploiting ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. The structural and vibrational time evolution of key vibrational modes is found to be in excellent agreement with femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy experiments [R. A. Mathies et al., J. Phys. Chem. A, 2018, 122, 14, 3594], unveiling a correlation between vibrational fingerprints and electronic properties. The evaluation of nonadiabatic coupling matrix elements along generalized normal modes has made possible the interpretation on the molecular scale of the activation of nonradiative relaxation pathways towards the ground electronic state. In particular, two low frequency vibrational modes such as the out of plane bending and dimer breathing and the TCNE central C C stretching play a prominent role in relaxation phenomena from the electronic CT state to the ground state one.

We present electronic structure methods to unveil the non-radiative pathways of photoinduced charge transfer (CT) reactions that play a main role in photophysics and light harvesting technologies.     

Electron correlation in the 3 (1)Sigma(g)+ and 2 (1)Sigma(u)+ excited state lithium molecule

Electron correlation effects in the two excited states of Li(2), 3 (1)Sigma(g) (+) and 2 (1)Sigma(u) (+), one with a shelf shape and another with double minima in their potential energy curves, have been studied with the aid of the calculated electron pair density distribution as a function of the internuclear distance and the analysis of the natural orbitals. Both states show increased electron pair densities at intermediate interelectronic distances around the second minimum of their potential energy curves. Since the bond breaks homolitically this observation runs contrary to regular expectations. Analysis of the electron pair density distributions and the natural orbitals provides mechanisms to account for this abnormal behavior.     

Lifetime of the B3Σ−u state of S2

Using the single-photon time correlation method, we have determined the lifetime of the S₂(B³Σ^?_u) state from the decay rate of the fluorescence at 370 nm. A lifetime of 45.0 ± 0.6 ns was measured, and the cross section for fluorescence quenching by S₂ as found to be 81.3 ± 4.7 A². A slight dependence of the lifetime on the wavelength of the excitation source over the range of 280 to 337 nm was observed.     

Trace gas detection of molecular hydrogen H(2) by photoacoustic stimulated Raman spectroscopy (PARS)

Photoacoustic stimulated Raman spectroscopy (PARS) has been used for sensitive and selective trace gas detection of molecular hydrogen under ambient conditions. In one experiment, 532 nm output of a seeded pulsed Nd:YAG laser is employed as Raman pump source and a Raman shifter filled with gaseous H(2) to obtain Stokes shifted radiation at 683 nm, suitable to stimulate H(2) Raman detection in a photoacoustic cell. A noise equivalent detection limit of 40 ppm by volume H(2) in 1 atm N(2) is obtained (14 mJ at 532 nm, 18 mJ at 683 nm, 10 Hz repetition rate, 58 s measurement time). Another experiment employs a dye laser for stimulating Raman radiation between 681-684 nm, allowing tuneable PARS. A Gaussian spectral fitting procedure has been applied giving a noise equivalent detection limit of 4.6 ppm by volume H(2) in 1 atm N(2) (35 mJ pulse energy at 532 nm, 45 mJ at 681-684 nm, 10 Hz repetition rate, 256 s measurement time). Spectroscopic detection offers the advantage of high selectivity along with the ability to obtain temperature and dynamic information from the rotational population and a line shape analysis, and also allows the discrimination between ortho- and para-H(2).     

Theoretical study on S_1(~1B_(3u)) state electronic structure and absorption spectrum of pyrazine

Making use of a set of quantum chemistry methods, the harmonic potential surfaces of the ground state (S0(1Ag)) and the first (S1(1B3u)) excited state of pyrazine are investigated, and the electronic structures of the two states are characterized. In the present study, the conventional quantum mechanical method, taking account of the Born-Oppenheimer adiabatic approximation, is adopted to simulate the absorp-tion spectrum of S1(1B3u) state of pyrazine. The assignment of main vibronic transitions is made for S1(1B3u) state. It is found that the spectral profile is mainly described by the Franck-Condon progression of totally symmetric mode ν6a. For the five totally symmetric modes, the present calculations show that the frequency differences between the ground and the S1(1B3u) state are small. Therefore the displaced harmonic oscillator approximation along with Franck-Condon transition is used to simulate S1(1B3u) absorption spectra. The distortion effect due to the so-called quadratic coupling is demonstrated to be unimportant for the absorption spectrum, except the coupling mode ν10a. The calculated S1(1B3u) ab-sorption spectrum is in reasonable agreement with the experimental spectra.     

Excited state intramolecular proton transfer in Schiff bases. Decay of the locally excited enol state observed by femtosecond resolved fluorescence

Although the late (t>1 ps) photoisomerization steps in Schiff bases have been described in good detail, some aspects of the ultrafast (sub-100 fs) proton transfer process, including the possible existence of an energy barrier, still require experimental assessment. In this contribution we present femtosecond fluorescence up-conversion studies to characterize the excited state enol to cis-keto tautomerization through measurements of the transient molecular emission. Salicylideneaniline and salicylidene-1-naphthylamine were examined in acetonitrile solutions. We have resolved sub-100 fs and sub-0.5 ps emission components which are attributed to the decay of the locally excited enol form and to vibrationally excited states as they transit to the relaxed cis-keto species in the first electronically excited state. From the early spectral evolution, the lack of a deuterium isotope effect, and the kinetics measured with different amounts of excess vibrational energy, it is concluded that the intramolecular proton transfer in the S1 surface occurs as a barrierless process where the initial wave packet evolves in a repulsive potential toward the cis-keto form in a time scale of about 50 fs. The absence of an energy barrier suggests the participation of normal modes which modulate the donor to acceptor distance, thus reducing the potential energy during the intramolecular proton transfer.     

Time spectroscopy in theA 1∑ u + state of Li2

We have determined effective cross-sections for resonant transfer of excitation energy from state-selected Li₂ molecules to ground state Li atoms $$Li_2 A\left( {\upsilon ',J'} \right) + Li2S \to Li_2 X\left( {\upsilon '',J''} \right) + Li2P$$ with two different experimental techniques. Absolute cross-sections were derived from lifetime measurements of 114 rotational levels of theA-state subject to resonant collisions which belong to vibrational statesv′=4, 5, 6, 7 and 11 of⁶Li₂ and⁷Li₂. Cross-sections amount to several thousand Ų dropping off sharply with a resonance half-width of about 16 cm^?1. The resonance behaviour of the collision cross-section inferred from lifetime data could be confirmed by a double resonance technique probing the number of excited atoms with a second laser while the first laser was scanned over the Li₂ X?A absorption band. Due to their high reliability our data prove a good basis for the test of theoretical models. In contrast to earlier investigations significant deviations were found to exist between the measured cross-sections and those predicted by the first-order dipole-dipole scattering theory.     

Vibrational spectra of 2 (3H) benzofuranone studied by Raman,IR spectroscopy and AM1 semiempirical molecular orbital calculations

Raman spectra of 2 (3H) benzofuranone have been recorded in the region 400-3200 cm(-1) and the IR spectra have been recorded in the region 200-4000 cm(-1). Vibrational frequencies for the fundamental modes of this bicyclic heteroatomic molecule have also been calculated using Austin method 1 (AM1) semiempirical molecular orbital method. Vibrational assignments have been made for the fundamental modes and the observed combination and overtone bands are also assigned. A splitting in the carbonyl group (C=O stretching) frequency observed at 1640-1660 cm(-1) in both Raman and IR spectra, is explained as Fermi-resonance. Net atomic charges for each atom of this molecule along with its heat of formation were also calculated. It is evident from the calculations that the 2 (3H) benzofuranone is more stable than the 3 (2H) benzofuranone in contrast to earlier estimates.     

Static dipole polarizability of electronically excited molecules: H2(B1Σu+)

The dipole polarizability of H₂(B¹Σ_u⁺) is computed using extended Gaussian basis sets and Hartree-Fock, multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock, and configuration interaction wavefunctions. Electron correlation contributions are found to be significant (≈ 25%) with the largest contribution arising from angular correlation. With a full CI wavefunction, the components of the dipole polarizability were computed to be (in au): α_⊥ = 50 and α_| = 257.     

Vibrational energy relaxation of naphthalene in the S(1) state in various gases

Time-resolved fluorescence spectra of naphthalene in the S(1) state have been measured in various gases below 10(2) kPa. The band shape of the fluorescence changed in an earlier time region after the photoexcitation when an excess energy (3300 cm(-1)) above the 0-0 transition energy was given. The excitation energy dependence of the fluorescence band shape of an isolated naphthalene molecule was measured separately, and the time dependence of the fluorescence band shape in gases was found to be due to the vibrational energy relaxation in the S(1) state. We have succeeded in determining the transient excess vibrational energy by comparing the time-resolved fluorescence band shape with the excitation energy dependence of the fluorescence band shape. The excess vibrational energy decayed almost exponentially. From the slope of the decay rate against the buffer gas pressure, we have determined the collisional decay rate of the excess vibrational energy in various gases. The dependence of the vibrational energy relaxation rate on the buffer gas species was similar to the case of azulene. The comparisons with the results in the low temperature argon and the energy relaxation rate in the S(0) state in nitrogen were also discussed.     

Cavity ring-down spectroscopy and theoretical calculations of the S1(1B3u)<--S0(1Ag) transition of jet-cooled perylene

As part of our long-term program to test the diffuse interstellar band-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon hypothesis, we have investigated the S(1)<--S(0) electronic transition of neutral perylene (C(20)H(12)) in a combined experimental and theoretical study. Jet-cooled perylene was prepared with a pulsed discharge slit nozzle and detected by cavity ring-down spectroscopy. A number of vibronic features were observed in the 24 000-24 900 cm(-1) spectral range. Density functional and ab initio calculations were performed to determine the geometries, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and normal coordinates of both the S(0) and S(1) electronic states. A rotational temperature of 52+/-5 K was derived from a rotational contour analysis of the vibronic band associated with the 0-0 transition. A Franck-Condon treatment was carried out to calculate the vibronic spectrum of the S(1)<--S(0) transition. A good agreement was found between the calculated and the experimental spectra. A vibrational assignment is proposed and six normal modes are identified. The contribution of neutral compact polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to the diffuse interstellar bands is briefly discussed.     

Alkali—SCl2 chemiluminescence: Vibrational population inversion in the B state of S2

S₂(B-X) chemiluminescence, primarily from ν′ = 0 and 1, has been observed in alkali atom—SCl₂ reactions. The addition of He or Ar buffer gas to the reaction chamber alters the reaction dynamics, and at certain buffer gas pressures the S₂ emission originates exclusively from the ν′ = 6–9 vibrational levels of the B(³Σ_u^?) state.     

Vibrational structure of the electron transition to the second excited singlet state of pyridine N-oxide

The vibrational structure of the electron transition to the second singlet excited state of pyridine N-oxide has been studied. The frequency of the 0–0 transition is 34502 cm⁻¹. A computer-aided technique for the assignment of the frequencies of the normal vibrations of polyatomic molecules in the excited electronic states is proposed. The frequencies of the totally symmetric vibrations of pyridine N-oxide in the second singlet electronically excited state are assigned. N. G. Chernyshevskii Saratov State University. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 350–355, March–April, 1995. Translated by I. Izvekova