Abstract
The terahertz (THz) response of solvated electrons in liquid water is studied in nonlinear ultrafast pump-probe experiments. Free electrons with concentrations from to moles/liter are generated by high-field THz or near-infrared multiphoton excitation. The time-resolved change of the dielectric function as mapped by broadband THz pulses exhibits pronounced oscillations persisting up to 30 ps. Their frequency increases with electron concentration from 0.2 to 1.5 THz. The oscillatory response is assigned to impulsively excited coherent polarons involving coupled electron and water shell motions with a frequency set by the local electric field.
- Received 24 September 2020
- Accepted 28 January 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.097401
Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.
Published by the American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
synopsis
Electrons and Water Molecules Form a Pulsating Cluster
Published 3 March 2021
In water, single electrons can cluster with water molecules to form a quasiparticle that oscillates in size, a behavior that could influence the equilibration speed of chemical reactions in the system.
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