Laser pulse control of ultrafast electron transfer reactions

The optimal control (OC) scheme for molecular dynamics is applied to the study of ultrafast bridge mediated electron transfer (ET). Utilizing the methods of dissipative quantum dynamics in combination with the OC approach the guided charge motion in a donor-bridge-acceptor system including a single active vibrational coordinate is studied. The control field drives the optical transition from the electronic ground-state of the ET system into the donor-level and can be used to prepare special electronic and vibrational states. In particular, it is demonstrated that charge localization becomes possible at the acceptor or bridge molecule as well as in the electronic ground-state of the ET system. Received 30 August 2000 and Received in final form 25 October 2000     

On the theory of nonadiabatic bridge-mediated electron transfer

Effects of structural and energetic disorder on nonadiabatic electron transfer (ET) reactions are discussed theoretically. To account for the sequential as well as the superexchange mechanism of ET our recent approach is used presented in J. Phys. Chem. A 105, 10176 (2001). The overall charge motion is characterized by the numerical solution of rate equations for the electronic state populations and an averaging with respect to the disorder configurations. Introducing a single effective transfer rate which can be deduced from the experiment the dependence of this rate is discussed on the geometry of the ET system as well as on the disorder model. The theory is applied to donor-acceptor complexes connected by oligomers of the amino acid proline. In particular, a pronounced dependence is found of the effective transfer rate on disorder with respect to the reorganization energy.Received: 14 April 2003, Published online: 22 July 2003PACS: 34.10.+x General theories and models of atomic and molecular collisions and interactions (including statistical theories, transition state, stochastic and trajectory models, etc.) - 34.30.+h Intramolecular energy transfer; intramolecular dynamics; dynamics of van der Waals molecules - 31.70.Hq Time-dependent phenomena: excitation and relaxation processes, and reaction rates     

Evidence for the purely electronic character of primary electron transfer in purple bacteria Rh. Sphaeroides

A quantum-chemical calculation of the excited electronic states of a Rh. Sphaeroides reaction centre was performed. We discovered a new excited electronic state which can participate in electron transfer (ET). The energy gradient calculations showed that photoexcitation activates only high-frequency vibrational modes. This contradicts the widely accepted picture of ET resulting from vibrational wave packet motion. An alternative model is suggested where ET has a purely dissipative character and occurs only due to pigment--protein interaction. With this model, we demonstrate that oscillations in the femtosecond spectra can be caused by the new electronic state and non-Markovian character of dissipative dynamics.     

Relaxation Processes at High Levels of Vibrational Excitation of Polyatomic Molecules in the Ground Electronic State

By the spectral and kinetic characteristics of the luminescence of vapors of polyatomic molecules (anthracene, anthraquinone, fluorenone) initiated by selective IR multiphoton excitation (IR MPE) of molecules in the ground electronic state S ₀ the relaxation processes proceeding under vibrational excitation of molecules to energies exceeding the energies of the lower excited electronic states have been investigated. The changes in the spectral and kinetic characteristics with increasing CO₂ laser energy density and vapor P _v and foreign gas pressure P _FG are analyzed. They are similar to the characteristics obtained for normal fluorescence of these molecules with changing vibrational energy E _vib content. On the basis of experimental data and model calculations it has been concluded that at the laser radiation densities used in the case of IR MPE the molecules reach energies considerably exceeding the energies of the electronic levels. It is shown that a nonadiabatic connection between the electronic states leads to the population of mixed electronic states isoenergetic to the vibrational levels of the ground electronic state and to emission of delayed luminescence spectrally identical to the normal luminescence of these molecules. It has been found that when high vibrational levels are populated, new relaxation channels, such as reverse electron relaxation, emission from high vibrational levels of the ground electronic state, and multiquantum vibrational energy transfer at collisions leading to a rapid establishment of vibrational equilibrium become important.     

Picosecond time-resolved nonresonant ionization detected IR spectroscopy on 7-azaindole dimer

The picosecond time-resolved IR spectrum of the 7-azaindole dimer has been measured by picosecond time-resolved nonresonant ionization detected IR spectroscopy. This new time-resolved technique was developed by combining nonresonant ionization detected IR (NID-IR) spectroscopy with tunable picosecond IR and UV lasers. The time-resolved NID-IR spectrum from 2 600 cm^-1 to 3 800 cm^-1 shows a drastic change from 1.5 ps to 11 ps time evolution. A mode-specific vibrational redistribution has been suggested. Received 14 May 2002 / Received in final form 11 June 2002 Published online 13 September 2002     

Raman and IR spectra of new organic metals (ET)8[Hg4X12(C6H5Y)2] (X, Y=Cl, Br)

The Raman and IR reflectivity spectra of the new organic metals (ET)₈[Hg₄X₁₂(C₆H₅Y)₂] (X, Y=Cl, Br) based on the molecule bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (BEDT-TTF or ET in abbreviated form) have been investigated. These metals differ from the previously studied compounds, particularly, in the type of ET molecular packing in the quasi-two-dimensional conducting layers. A high reflectivity and a plasma minimum observed in the IR reflectivity spectrum indicate the presence of quasi-free charge carriers (holes), as in other conducting ET salts. However, the A _g vibrational modes in the Raman spectrum are not activated in the IR spectrum, as is the case of conducting ET salts with other packing types. The Raman lines are assigned to the normal vibrations in the ET molecule, and their ionization shifts are determined. It is demonstrated that the frequencies of the most intense line ν₃(A _g) show a linear dependence on the cation charge, which is characteristic of different ET salts. No correlations are revealed between the ν₃(A _g) frequencies and the packing type. The strong background with a broad maximum at a Raman shift of about 3000 cm^?1 is observed in the Raman spectra upon excitation with the 2.54-and 2.41-eV lines of an Ar⁺ laser. The assumption is made that such a background can be associated with the scattering by one-particle and collective electronic excitations.     

Detecting electronic coherence in excited-state electron transfer in fluorinated benzenes

Photoinduced electron transfer (ET) in heavily fluorinated benzenes in solution has been studied with broadband transient absorption spectroscopy. Spectrally resolved kinetics exhibit oscillations with amplitude up to 70% of the signal. The oscillation frequency is specific for each probe; in addition, for pentafluorobenzene it markedly depends on solvent, being 86 cm(-1) in hexane and 94 cm(-1) in acetonitrile. We argue that the observed behavior is not related to vibrational coherences, but originate from coherent electronic motion between an optically excited and an ET state.     

Magnetic order in the Shastry-Sutherland model

We investigate the influence of energetic disorder, viscous damping and an external field on the electron transfer (ET) in DNA. The double helix structure of the λ-form of DNA is modeled by a steric oscillator network. In the context of the base-pair picture two different kinds of modes representing twist motions of the base pairs and H-bond distortions are coupled to the electron amplitude. Through the nonlinear interaction between the electronic and the vibrational degrees of freedom localized stationary states in the form of standing electron-vibron breathers are produced which we derive with a stationary map method. We show that in the presence of additional energetic disorder the degree of localization of such breathers is enhanced. It is demonstrated how an applied electric field initiates the long-range coherent motion of breathers along the bases of a DNA strand. These moving electron-vibron breathers, absorbing energy from the applied field, sustain energetic losses due to the viscous friction caused by the aqueous solvent as well as the impact of a moderate amount of energetic disorder. Moreover, it is illustrated that with the choice of the amplitude and frequency of the external field, the breather can be steered to a desired lattice position achieving control of the ET. Received 5 July 2002 Published online 29 November 2002     

Convergence of experiment and theory on the pure vibrational spectrum of HeH(+)

Very accurate quantum mechanical calculations of the pure vibrational spectrum of the molecular ion are reported and compared with newly obtained pure vibrational transitions extracted from the available experimental data. The calculations are performed without assuming the Born-Oppenheimer approximation regarding separability of the nuclear and electronic motions and include the first order relativistic mass-velocity and Darwin corrections. For the two lowest transitions, whose experimental energies are established with the highest precision, the calculated and the experimental results show very good agreement.     

Electronic second hyperpolarizability of the carbon tetrachloride molecule

The electronic second hyperpolarizability γ of the carbon tetrachloride molecule is calculated by the ab initio molecular orbital method considering electron correlation with large basis sets. The static electronic γ value with the CCSD(T) method is 1.65 times the Hartree-Fock value, indicating a considerable electron correlation effect. Taking account of the frequency dispersion and vibrational effects, we estimate the most probable theoretical γ value at 800 nm to be around 17900au (9.0 × 10^?36 esu). On the other hand, the experimental value recently observed by optical Kerr effect method is 10.6 × 10^?36 esu at 800nm. It is concluded that the major part of the experimental χ⁽³⁾ value of carbon tetrachloride can account for the static electronic hyperpolarizability.     

D_2~+强场解离的电子局域化随激光波长的非线性变化

研究了周期量级激光脉冲的波长变化对氘分子离子D_2~+强场解离过程中电子局域化的影响.通过求解波恩,奥本海默近似下关于核波包演化的双能级含时薛定谔方程,发现电子局域化的不对称性对激光波长有反常的依赖关系.电子局域程度随着波长的增加呈现增强的趋势,但在某些波长范围内电子局域化出现了显著的衰减.导致电子局域化程度被削弱的直接原因是在某些波长下不同振动态的电子局域化对脉冲载波包络相位的响应出现了反相抵消.分析表明,当波长发生变化时,决定电子局域化的核运动和电子运动在外场作用下出现不一致的运动响应,最终导致了电子局域化的非线性变化.     

Intermolecular Processes in Excited Electronic States in the Gas Phase (Review)

A brief review of works on the temperature dependences of the rate constants k_q of the intermolecular processes proceeding in the excited electronic states in the gas phase is given. The dependences k_q(T) for such biomolecular processes as intermolecular vibrational energy transfer in the triplet state vibrational quasi-continuum, triplet-triplet electron excitation energy transfer, and intermolecular photoinduced electron transfer have been compared. The experimental data have shown that in the gas phase for all analyzed intermolecular processes both an increase and a decrease in k_q with increasing temperature (T) is observed, which is not associated with the specific intermolecular interactions leading to the formation of long-lived components. The change in the type of temperature dependence is due to the change in the mechanisms of the radiationless transitions with increasing density of vibrational levels in the final electronic state. The applicability of the known models based on the theory of radiationless transitions for predicting the temperature dependences k_q(T) is discussed. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektros-kopii, Vol. 72, No. 4, pp. 429–439, July–August, 2005.     

Geometry Relaxation of Photoexcited States in Conjugated Molecules

The random phase approximation combined with semiempirical Hamiltonians is applied to compute and analyze electronic structure and excited state adiabatic potentials of several conjugated molecules. Calculated excited state energies and parameters of molecular adiabatic surfaces characterize the coupled dynamics of vibrational and electronic degrees of freedom. The analysis identifies the specific torsional and bond-stretching nuclear motions that dominate the excited state relaxation and lead to self-localized excitations. This approach is an inexpensive and numerically efficient method of computing molecular excited state adiabatic surfaces and modeling femto-to-pico second time-dependent photoexcitation processes along chosen trajectories.     

Vibrational assignments and electronic structure calculations for 6‐thioguanine

The Fourier transform Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectra of thioguanine have been recorded. Ab initio and density functional computations of the vibrational (IR) spectrum, the molecular geometry, Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO)–Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) energy gaps and polarizabilities were studied. On the basis of the comparison between calculated and experimental results and the comparison with related molecules, assignments of fundamental vibrational modes are examined. The observed and simulated spectra were found to be well comparable. The electronic transition energies and intensities of spectral lines were carried out using TDDFT and ZINDO methods. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

用差分收敛法研究NaLi分子部分电子态的完全振动能谱

基于双核分子振动能级的普遍表达式和差分收敛法(difference converging method, DCM), 利用微分思想将DCM应用于双核分子体系完全振动能谱的研究中. 应用DCM方法, 分别选用实验上获得的一组(10条)精确的振动能级, 对NaLi分子3¹Π, 4¹Π 和A¹Σ⁺电子态进行了研究, DCM的研究结果正确重复了已知数据并预测出了在实验上未能获得的包含高激发态在内的完全振动能谱数据, 同时计算得到了这3个电子态的振动光谱常数.     

IR Absorption,Raman Scattering,and IR-Vis Sum-Frequency Generation Spectroscopy as Quantitative Probes of Surface Structure

Abstract:Vibrational spectroscopy is a valuable quantitative tool for the determination of structure at surfaces. Various techniques may be applicable and useful, depending on what is available, the transparency of the substrates, the need for in situ probes, and the degree of interfacial specificity required. We examine and compare signals in infrared absorption, Raman scattering, and vibrational sum-frequency generation spectroscopy to the underlying molecular response. In all of these experiments, varying the beam polarizations enables the orientation of specific chemical functional groups to be determined. However, the sensitivity of each technique is directly connected to the manner in which the molecular response manifests itself in the measured signal. Starting with simple distributions of a single vibrational mode, leading up to multiple vibrational bands in more complex orientation distributions, we compare these three techniques in terms of their sensitivity to features of the molecular orientation distribution. This review is aimed at guiding planned experiments when multiple techniques are available for surface structural analysis.     

Electron–phonon coupling and vibrational modes contributing to linear electro‐optic effect of the efficient NLO chromophore 4‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)‐N‐methyl‐4′‐toluene sulfonate (DAST) from their vibrational spectra

The optimized geometry and structural features of the most prospective electro‐optic crystal 4‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)‐N‐methyl‐4′‐toluene sulfonate (DAST), and the vibrational spectral investigations have been comprehensively described with the near infrared Fourier transform (NIR FT) Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectra supported by the density functional theoretical (DFT) computations to elucidate the contribution of vibrational modes to the linear electro‐optic (LEO) effect. Mulliken population analysis and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis have also been carried out to analyze the effects of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), intramolecular hydrogen bonding and hyperconjugative interactions on the geometries. The influence of CT interaction between the phenyl ring and the dimethylamino group of the nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophore on the endocyclic and exocyclic angles, and the electronic effects such as hyperconjugation and back‐donation on the methyl hydrogen atoms have been examined. The concurrent intense activation of Raman and IR activities of the effective conjugation vibrational coordinate, which significantly contributes to the LEO effect resulting from the strong electron–phonon (e/ph) coupling, has been analyzed in detail. The effects of frontier orbitals, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), transition of electron density (ED) transfer and the influence of planarity in the stilbazolium ring on the first hyperpolarizability are also discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantum ergodicity and energy flow in molecules

We review a theory for coupled many-nonlinear oscillator systems that describes quantum ergodicity and energy flow in molecules. The theory exploits the isomorphism between quantum energy flow in Fock space, that is, vibrational state space, and single-particle quantum transport in disordered solid-state systems. The quantum ergodicity transition in molecules is thereby analogous to the Anderson transition in disordered solids. The theory reviewed here, local random matrix theory (LRMT), describes the nature of the quantum ergodicity transition, statistical properties of vibrational eigenstates, and quantum energy flow through the vibrational states of molecules. Predictions of LRMT have been observed in computational studies of coupled nonlinear oscillator systems, which are summarized here. We also review applications of LRMT to molecular spectroscopy and chemical reaction rate theory, including adoption of LRMT in theories that predict rates of conformational change of molecules taking place at energies corresponding to those below and above the quantum ergodicity transition. A number of specific examples are reviewed, including the application of LRMT to predict (1) dilution factors of IR spectra of organic molecules, (2) rates of conformational change in chemical and photochemical reactions, (3) conformational dynamics of biological molecules in molecular beams, (4) rates of hydrogen bond breaking and rearrangement in clusters of biological molecules and water, and (5) excited state proton transfer reactions in proteins.     

Accurate studies on the full vibrational energy spectra and molecular dissociation energies for some electronic states of N<Subscript>2</Subscript> molecule

It is usually very difficult to directly obtain molecular dissociation energy D _e and all accurate high-lying vibrational energies for most diatomic electronic states using modern experimental techniques or quantum theories, and it, is also very difficult to give accurate analytical expression for diatomic molecular dissociation energy. This study proposes a new analytical formula for obtaining accurate molecular dissociation energy based on the LeRoy and Bernstein’s energy expression in dissociation limit. A set of full vibrational energy spectra for some electronic states of N₂ molecule are studied using the algebraic method (AM) suggested recently, and the corresponding accurate molecular dissociation energies are evaluated using the proposed new formula and high-lying AM vibrational energies. The results show that the AM spectra and the new theoretical dissociation energies agree excellently with experimental data, and thereby providing a new physical approach to generating accurate dissociation energies for electronic states of diatomic molecules.