Abstract

We have recently studied the molecular dynamics of I₂ photodissociation in thirteen different solvents following excitation into the A 1_u(³Π) state.^1-3 As shown in Fig. 1, for a given solvent, the time scale of the transient electronic spectral response varies strongly with the probe photon wavelength. We have interpreted this as an indication that the response times are likely due to the time for vibrational or perhaps electronic decay of the already recombined I₂ molecules. Our experimental results correlate well with the theoretical picture developed recently by our group,^3,4 and by the Hynes⁵ and Adelman groups.⁶

© 1984 Optical Society of America