Transient Terahertz Stark Effect: A Dynamic Probe of Electric Interactions in Polar Liquids

Electric forces acting on molecules in liquids at ambient temperature fluctuate at terahertz (THz) frequencies with a direct impact on their electronic and optical properties. We introduce the transient THz Stark effect to modify the electronic absorption spectra of dye molecules and, thus, elucidate and determine the underlying molecular interactions and dynamics. Picosecond electric fields of megavolts/cm induce a nonequilibrium response of the prototypical Betaine-30 in polar solution that is probed via transient absorption changes. The field-induced broadening of the absorption band follows the THz intensity in time, with a minor impact of solvent dynamics. The ground and excited state dipole energies in the THz field govern this response, allowing for a quantification of electric forces in a structurally frozen molecular environment.