Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Measurement of Ultrafast Vibrational Coherences in Polyatomic Radical Cations with Strong-Field Adiabatic Ionization
Published on: August 6, 2018
Ultrafast vibrational dynamics observed in higher electronic excited states of iodine using pump-UV DFWM spectroscopy
A Scaria1, V Namboodiri, J Konradi
1School of Engineering and Science, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, 28759, Bremen, Germany.
Abstract:
By using a combination of an initial pump pulse and a degenerate four-wave mixing process, we show that an interrogation of the vibrational dynamics occurring in different electronic states of molecules is possible. The technique is applied to iodine. The initial pump pulse is used to populate the B((3)Pi) state of molecular iodine in the gas phase. Now, by using an internal time delay in the DFWM process, which is resonant with the transition between the B state and a higher lying ion-pair state, the vibrational dynamics of the B state and the ion-pair state could be observed. States of even symmetry are investigated, which are accessed by a one photon transition from the B state. By a proper choice of the wavelengths used for the pump and DFWM beams, the dynamics of ion-pair states belonging to two different tiers are monitored.
Related Concept Videos
UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Molecular Electronic Transitions
IR Spectroscopy: Molecular Vibration Overview
Stretching vibrations are vibrational motions that occur along the bond line, changing the bond length or distance between two bonded atoms. They are further distinguished as symmetric or asymmetric. In symmetric stretching, the...
IR Spectroscopy: Hooke's Law Approximation of Molecular Vibration
According to Hooke's law, the vibrational frequency is directly proportional to the...
Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy
IR and UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Aldehydes and Ketones
IR Absorption Frequency: Hybridization
Among the sp, sp2, and sp3 hybridized orbitals, sp orbitals have the maximum s character (50%). Consequently, the electrons are held more closely to the nucleus, resulting in stronger and shorter C–H bonds that stretch at a...

