Photoinduced Non-Adiabatic Dynamics in Quartet Na3 and K3 Formed Using Helium Nanodroplet Isolation

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 2000 · Journal of Chemical Physics

OSTI ID:15001163

Reho, J ^[1]; Higgins, J ^[1]; Nooijen, M ^[1]; Lehmann, K K ^[1]; Scoles, G ^[1]; Gutowski, Maciej S ^[2]

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1. Princeton University
2. BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)

Helium nanodroplet isolation is used to produce van der Waals-bound quartet state alkali trimers (Na3 and K3) selectively over the corresponding chemically bound doublet trimers. Frequency resolved excitation and emission spectroscopy reveals the presence of non-adiabatic spin flip processes in the electronically excited states. A total of four quartet to quartet electronic transitions are observed: the 24E*,14E*14A2* transitions of Na3 and the 14A1**,24E**14A2* transitions of K3. Time resolved spectroscopy reveals that intersystem crossing times in Na3 decrease from 1.4 ns after excitation of the 0-0 band to approximately 400 ps for the higher vibronic levels (3, 5/2). Analysis of the resonant quartet fluorescence reveals that the excited electronic state cools vibrationally on a timescale that is comparable with, but slower than the intersystem crossing time.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 15001163
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-35692; KC0302010
• Journal Information: Journal of Chemical Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Chemical Physics Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 115
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITED STATES
FLUORESCENCE
HELIUM
HYDROXIDES
POTASSIUM
SODIUM
SPIN FLIP