Abstract

The utility of nonlinear spectroscopic experiments in elucidating “sub-linewidth” vibrational dynamics of molecules in solution has been clearly demonstrated in recent years.^{1, 2} Still, the electronic state origin of the observed beats of the detected third-order polarization is generally not directly established.¹ Clearly, detailed study of reaction dynamics in solution requires greater precision in the measurement of the real and imaginary contributions to the time dependent response function of the reactive moiety. We report here our results of the optically-induced dichroism and birefringence of 5mM I₂ - alkane solutions on the femtosecond timescale. The solvent dependence of the medium-induced predissociation of the B-state is described.

© 1992 The Author(s)