Real-Time Dynamics of Energy Redistribution and Reactions

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This research in the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division involves experimental investigations into two major areas of chemical dynamics: 1) extending studies of intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) in real time to reactive systems in the electronically excited state; and 2) developing a new approach for looking at dynamics on ground- state potential energy surfaces in real time. The time scale of these studies is in the picosecond to femtosecond regime. The mode specificity, time scale and nature, role of rotations and collisions, and influence of symmetry on IVR will be targeted. The focus of the reactive dynamics will be on state-to-state rates of elementary reactions, the effect of total energy, mode specificity, and the role of angular momentum on reaction rates. %%% Until recently it was not possible to follow molecules in the process of exchanging energy or reacting to form products. Chemists deduced the forces and energies involved in collisions by examining the state of the interacting species before and after the collisional event. Professor Zewail has been a pioneer in developing time-resolved techniques which allow an unequivocal picture of collisions as they happen. Such studies are important because they help answer some fundamental questions in chemistry: how do reactions occur, and how does the released energy of reaction dissipate? The proposed work examines some of these questions.