Transient nutation electron spin resonance spectroscopy on spin-correlated radical pairs: A theoretical analysis on hyperfine-induced nuclear modulations

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Journal of Chemical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.473617· OSTI ID:535933

Weber, S; Kothe, G; Norris, J R ^[1]

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1. Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637 (United States)

The influence of anisotropic hyperfine interaction on transient nutation electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of light-induced spin-correlated radical pairs is studied theoretically. Expressions for the time evolution of the transient EPR signal during selective microwave excitation of single transitions are derived for a system comprised of a weakly coupled radical pair and one hyperfine-coupled nucleus with I=1/2. Zero-quantum electron coherence and single-quantum nuclear coherence are created as a result of the sudden light-induced generation of the radical pair state from a singlet-state precursor. Depending on the relative sizes of the nuclear Zeeman frequency and the secular and pseudo-secular parts of the hyperfine coupling, transitions between levels with different nuclear spin orientations are predicted to modulate the time-dependent EPR signal. These modulations are in addition to the well-known transient nutations and electron zero-quantum precessions. Our calculations provide insight into the mechanism of coherent nuclear modulations in the time-resolved EPR signals of doublets and radical pairs. Two distinct mechanisms of the modulations are presented for various microwave magnetic field strengths. The first modulation scheme arises from electron and nuclear coherences initiated by the laser excitation pulse and is {close_quotes}read out{open_quotes} by the weak microwave magnetic field. While the relative modulation depth of these oscillations with respect to the signal intensity is independent of the Rabi frequency, {omega}{sub 1}, the frequencies of this coherence phenomenon are modulated by the effective microwave amplitude and determined by the nuclear Zeeman interaction and hyperfine coupling constants as well as the electron-electron spin exchange and dipolar interactions between the two radical pair halves. In a second mechanism the modulations are both created and detected by the microwave radiation. (Abstract Truncated)

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-96ER14675
• OSTI ID: 535933
• Journal Information: Journal of Chemical Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Chemical Physics Journal Issue: 15 Vol. 106; ISSN JCPSA6; ISSN 0021-9606
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

40 CHEMISTRY
ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE
HYPERFINE STRUCTURE
MODULATION
RADICALS
TRANSIENTS