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Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Determination of the Photoisomerization Quantum Yield of a Hydrazone Photoswitch

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Published on: February 7, 2022

Photoisomerization transition state manipulation by entangled two-photon absorption.

Bing Gu^1,2, Daniel Keefer^1,2, Flavia Aleotti³

¹Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|November 20, 2021

Summary

Quantum light, specifically photon entanglement, influences photochemical reactions like azobenzene isomerization. This quantum control alters reaction pathways and product yields, offering a new method for manipulating chemical events.

Keywords:

azobenzene entangled photons photoisomerization two-photon absorption wave packets

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Area of Science:

Quantum optics
Photochemistry
Chemical dynamics

Background:

Two-photon excitation is a key process in photochemistry.
Controlling photochemical reactions at the quantum level remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how quantum light, particularly entangled photons, affects photochemical events.
To explore the role of photon entanglement in controlling azobenzene isomerization.

Main Methods:

Simulated quantum nuclear wave packet dynamics.
Modeling entangled two-photon excitation of azobenzene.
Simulated X-ray signals for coherence monitoring.

Main Results:

Photon entanglement coherently controls transition pathways in azobenzene isomerization.
The photochemical transition state and product yield are significantly altered.
Initial wave packet shape dictates vibronic coherence distribution.

Conclusions:

Quantum entanglement offers a novel control mechanism for photochemical reactions.
Entangled two-photon excitation provides a new knob for manipulating chemical dynamics.
Simulated X-ray signals can monitor quantum coherence during reactions.