Ultrafast T-jump in water: studies of conformation and reaction dynamics at the thermal limit

We report the development of ultrafast T-jump with time resolution reaching the fundamental time scale of water thermalization time ( approximately 5 ps). The T-jump heats the bulk water up to 20 degrees C via the overtone absorption of the OH- stretch at 1.5 mum. The example given here shows the application of the methodology, for the first time, and the results demonstrate distinct time scales for solvation, conformational change, and thermal reaction.