Ultrafast Changes of Molecular Crystal Structure Induced by Dipole Solvation

M. Braun, C. v. Korff Schmising, M. Kiel, N. Zhavoronkov, J. Dreyer, M. Bargheer, T. Elsaesser, C. Root, T. E. Schrader, P. Gilch, W. Zinth, and M. Woerner
Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 248301 – Published 11 June 2007

Abstract

Femtosecond photoexcitation of organic chromophores in a molecular crystal induces strong changes of the electronic dipole moment via intramolecular charge transfer as is evident from transient vibrational spectra. The structural response of the crystal to the dipole change is mapped directly for the first time by ultrafast x-ray diffraction or diffuse scattering. Changes of diffracted and transmitted x-ray intensity demonstrate an angular rearrangement of molecules around excited dipoles following the 10 ps kinetics of charge transfer and leaving lattice plane spacings unchanged. Transient x-ray scattering is governed by solvation, masking changes of the chromophore molecular structure.

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  • Received 20 October 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.248301

©2007 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

M. Braun1, C. v. Korff Schmising2, M. Kiel2, N. Zhavoronkov2, J. Dreyer2, M. Bargheer2, T. Elsaesser2, C. Root1, T. E. Schrader1, P. Gilch1, W. Zinth1, and M. Woerner2,*

  • 1BioMolekulare Optik and MAP, Department für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80538 München, Germany
  • 2Max-Born-Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und Kurzzeitspektroskopie, 12489 Berlin, Germany

  • *woerner@mbi-berlin.de

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Issue

Vol. 98, Iss. 24 — 15 June 2007

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