RMS dipole moments of the valence excited states of linear polyenes

Asymmetrical vibrations induce small oscillating dipole moments in the ground states of linear all-trans polyenes. Upon vertical excitation into one of the two low-lying valence excited states the induced in-plane dipole moments are increased 3 times and more. The rms dipole moments increase with the chain length. The inducing modes are the CCC skeletal bending and the CC stretching vibrations. CH stretching vibrations are also found to contribute non-negligible polarization.