Topics in theoretical chemical dynamics

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The interaction between molecules and light is one of the most significant phenomena in Chemistry, driving natural processes (e.g., vision), and allowing us to both interrogate (e.g., in spectroscopy) and manipulate (e.g., via coherent control) molecules at their most fundamental level. This interaction, and its effect, is governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. In this proposal, we outline a creative program of study designed to explore and utilize quantum coherence, incoherence and decoherence in light-matter interactions in a variety of fundamental processes, such as radiationless transitions, isomerization processes in vision, etc. The subject of this study is rich in content, encompassing many challenging theoretical/computational problems at the forefront of our understanding of closed and open quantum systems, with strong ties to ongoing and proposed high-tech experiments. The results of this work are expected to be significant both in terms of a fundamental understanding of nature, and in contributing to the development of practical devices that are designed to benefit from quantum effects. The proposed program is also expected to provide the research environment and research challenges that are vital to the training of modern, highly qualified personnel.