Molecular photodissociation dynamics: The time-dependent formulation

Summary The time-dependent formulation for nuclear dynamics in molecules induced by electronic excitation in a radiation field is reviewed. The present discussion is especially aiming at extracting physical observables for photodissociation and highlighting the connection to the nuclear dynamics of the process. The total dissociation probability, the probability associated with the formation of a given chemical product, and the probability that this product shows up in a specified quantum state is considered. The results are given as a function of the form of the light pulse, and special attention is given to situations where the duration of the light pulse is very short or very long.