Abstract

Photodissociation dynamics in a liquid environment are of considerable complexity and interest. In liquids, effects such as caging and collisions with surrounding solvent molecules that cause dissipation of electronic, translational, rotational and vibrational energy to the surrounding solvent must be considered in addition to the often complex dissociation dynamics in the gas phase. The à band photodissociation of ICN is an excellent candidate to study the effects of the solvent on dissociation. This system has been studied extensively in the gas phase, both experimentally and theoretically. Three electronic states comprise this band and two product channels, ICN* I+CN and I*+CN, are observed [1]. In the I + CN channel, the CN is produced highly rotationally excited, N~50, making this system an excellent choice for the study of relaxation of a highly rotationally excited molecule in the liquid phase.

© 2002 Optical Society of America