skip to main content


Title: Direct mapping of curve-crossing dynamics in IBr by attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy
The electronic character of photoexcited molecules can abruptly change at avoided crossings and conical intersections. Here, we report direct mapping of the coupled interplay between electrons and nuclei in a prototype molecule, iodine monobromide (IBr), by using attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. A few-femtosecond visible pulse resonantly excites the B ( Π 3 0 + ) , Y(0 + ), and Z(0 + ) states of IBr, and the photodissociation dynamics are tracked with an attosecond extreme-ultraviolet pulse that simultaneously probes the I-4 d and Br-3 d core-level absorption edges. Direct comparison with quantum mechanical simulations unambiguously identifies the absorption features associated with adiabatic and diabatic channels at the B/Y avoided crossing and concurrent two-photon dissociation processes that involve the Y/Z avoided crossing. The results show clear evidence for rapid switching of valence-electronic character at the avoided crossing.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1660417
NSF-PAR ID:
10158292
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Science
Volume:
365
Issue:
6448
ISSN:
0036-8075
Page Range / eLocation ID:
79 to 83
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. The millimeter/submillimeter-wave spectrum of the SiP radical (X 2 Π i ) has been recorded using direct absorption spectroscopy in the frequency range of 151–532 GHz. SiP was synthesized in an AC discharge from the reaction of SiH 4 and gas-phase phosphorus, in argon carrier gas. Both spin–orbit ladders were observed. Fifteen rotational transitions were measured originating in the Ω = 3/2 ladder, and twelve in the Ω = 1/2 substate, each exhibiting lambda doubling and, at lower frequencies, hyperfine interactions from the phosphorus nuclear spin of I = 1/2. The lambda-doublets in the Ω = 1/2 levels appeared to be perturbed at higher J, with the f component deviating from the predicted pattern, likely due to interactions with the nearby excited A 2 Σ + electronic state, where ΔE Π-Σ ∼ 430 cm −1 . The data were analyzed using a Hund’s case a β Hamiltonian and rotational, spin–orbit, lambda-doubling, and hyperfine parameters were determined. A 2 Π/ 2 Σ deperturbation analysis was also performed, considering spin–orbit, spin-electronic, and L-uncoupling interactions. Although SiP is clearly not a hydride, the deperturbed parameters derived suggest that the pure precession hypothesis may be useful in assessing the 2 Π/ 2 Σ interaction. Interpretation of the Fermi contact term, b F , the spin-dipolar constant, c, and the nuclear spin-orbital parameter, a, indicates that the orbital of the unpaired electron is chiefly p π in character. The bond length in the v = 0 level was found to be r 0 = 2.076 Å, suggestive of a double bond between the silicon and phosphorus atoms. 
    more » « less
  2. A gr e at d e al of i nt er e st s urr o u n d s t h e u s e of tr a n s cr a ni al dir e ct c urr e nt sti m ul ati o n (t D C S) t o a u g m e nt c o g niti v e tr ai ni n g. H o w e v er, eff e ct s ar e i n c o n si st e nt a cr o s s st u di e s, a n d m et aa n al yti c e vi d e n c e i s mi x e d, e s p e ci all y f o r h e alt h y, y o u n g a d ult s. O n e m aj or s o ur c e of t hi s i n c o n si st e n c y i s i n di vi d u al diff er e n c e s a m o n g t h e p arti ci p a nt s, b ut t h e s e diff er e n c e s ar e r ar el y e x a mi n e d i n t h e c o nt e xt of c o m bi n e d tr ai ni n g/ sti m ul ati o n st u di e s. I n a d diti o n, it i s u n cl e ar h o w l o n g t h e eff e ct s of sti m ul ati o n l a st, e v e n i n s u c c e s sf ul i nt er v e nti o n s. S o m e st u di e s m a k e u s e of f oll o w- u p a s s e s s m e nt s, b ut v er y f e w h a v e m e a s ur e d p erf or m a n c e m or e t h a n a f e w m o nt hs aft er a n i nt er v e nti o n. H er e, w e utili z e d d at a fr o m a pr e vi o u s st u d y of t D C S a n d c o g niti v e tr ai ni n g [ A u, J., K at z, B., B u s c h k u e hl, M., B u n arj o, K., S e n g er, T., Z a b el, C., et al. E n h a n ci n g w or ki n g m e m or y tr ai ni n g wit h tr a n scr a ni al dir e ct c urr e nt sti m ul ati o n. J o u r n al of C o g niti v e N e u r os ci e n c e, 2 8, 1 4 1 9 – 1 4 3 2, 2 0 1 6] i n w hi c h p arti ci p a nts tr ai n e d o n a w or ki n g m e m or y t as k o v er 7 d a y s w hil e r e c ei vi n g a cti v e or s h a m t D C S. A n e w, l o n g er-t er m f oll o w- u p t o a ss es s l at er p erf or m a n c e w a s c o n d u ct e d, a n d a d diti o n al p arti ci p a nt s w er e a d d e d s o t h at t h e s h a m c o n diti o n w a s b ett er p o w er e d. W e a s s e s s e d b a s eli n e c o g niti v e a bilit y, g e n d er, tr ai ni n g sit e, a n d m oti v ati o n l e v el a n d f o u n d si g nifi c a nt i nt er a cti o ns b et w e e n b ot h b as eli n e a bilit y a n d m oti v ati o n wit h c o n diti o n ( a cti v e or s h a m) i n m o d els pr e di cti n g tr ai ni n g g ai n. I n a d diti o n, t h e i m pr o v e m e nt s i n t h e a cti v e c o nditi o n v er s u s s h a m c o n diti o n a p p e ar t o b e st a bl e e v e n a s l o n g a s a y e ar aft er t h e ori gi n al i nt er v e nti o n. ■ 
    more » « less
  3. Bis(bithienyl)-1,2-dicyanoethene (4TCE) is a photoswitch that operates via reversible E / Z photoisomerization following absorption of visible light. cis -to- trans photoisomerization of 4TCE requires excitation below 470 nm, is relatively inefficient (quantum yield < 5%) and occurs via the lowest-lying triplet. We present excitation-wavelength dependent (565–420 nm) transient absorption (TA) studies to probe the photophysics of cis -to- trans isomerization to identify sources of switching inefficiency. TA data reveals contributions from more than one switch conformer and relaxation cascades between multiple states. Fast (∼4 ps) and slow (∼40 ps) components of spectral dynamics observed at low excitation energies (>470 nm) are readily attributed to deactivation of two conformers; this assignment is supported by computed thermal populations and absorption strengths of two molecular geometries (P A and P B ) characterized by roughly parallel dipoles for the thiophenes on opposite sides of the ethene bond. Only the P B conformer is found to contribute to triplet population and the switching of cis -4TCE: high-energy excitation (<470 nm) of P B involves direct excitation to S 2 , relaxation from which prepares an ISC-active S 1 geometry (ISC QY 0.4–0.67, k ISC ∼ 1.6–2.6 × 10 −9 s −1 ) that is the gateway to triplet population and isomerization. We ascribe low cis -to- trans isomerization yield to excitation of the nonreactive P A conformer (75–85% loss) as well as loses along the P B S 2 → S 1 → T 1 cascade (10–20% loss). In contrast, electrocyclization is inhibited by the electronic character of the excited states, as well as a non-existent thermal population of a reactive “antiparallel” ring conformation. 
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    Reduction of the cobalt(II) chloride complex, Ph2B(tBuIm)2Co(THF)Cl (1) in the presence oftBuN≡C affords the diamagnetic, square planar cobalt(I) complex Ph2B(tBuIm)2Co(C≡NtBu)2(2). This is a rare example of a 16‐electron cobalt(I) complex that is structurally related to square planar noble metal complexes. Accordingly, the electronic structure of2, as calculated by DFT, reveals that the HOMO is largely dz2in character. Complex2is readily oxidized to its cobalt(II) congener [Ph2B(tBuIm)2Co(C=NtBu)2]BPh4(3‐BPh4), whose EPR spectral parameters are characteristic of low‐spin d7with an unpaired electron in an orbital of dz2parentage. This is also consistent with the results of DFT calculations. Despite its 16‐electron configuration and the dz2parentage of the HOMO, the only tractable reactions of2involve one electron oxidation to afford3.

     
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    Large separation of magnetic levels and slow relaxation in metal complexes are desirable properties of single‐molecule magnets (SMMs). Spin‐phonon coupling (interactions of magnetic levels with phonons) is ubiquitous, leading to magnetic relaxation and loss of memory in SMMs and quantum coherence in qubits. Direct observation of magnetic transitions and spin‐phonon coupling in molecules is challenging. We have found that far‐IR magnetic spectra (FIRMS) of Co(PPh3)2X2(Co‐X; X=Cl, Br, I) reveal rarely observed spin‐phonon coupling as avoided crossings between magnetic andu‐symmetry phonon transitions. Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) gives phonon spectra. Calculations using VASP and phonopy programs gave phonon symmetries and movies. Magnetic transitions among zero‐field split (ZFS) levels of theS=3/2 electronic ground state were probed by INS, high‐frequency and ‐field EPR (HFEPR), FIRMS, and frequency‐domain FT terahertz EPR (FD‐FT THz‐EPR), giving magnetic excitation spectra and determining ZFS parameters (D, E) andgvalues. Ligand‐field theory (LFT) was used to analyze earlier electronic absorption spectra and give calculated ZFS parameters matching those from the experiments. DFT calculations also gave spin densities inCo‐X, showing that the larger Co(II) spin density in a molecule, the larger its ZFS magnitude. The current work reveals dynamics of magnetic and phonon excitations in SMMs. Studies of such couplings in the future would help to understand how spin‐phonon coupling may lead to magnetic relaxation and develop guidance to control such coupling.

     
    more » « less