Structure and Dynamics of Electronic Excited States

New developments in laser technology and theoretical modeling has allowed physicists to control chemical reactions using lasers and to attain an understanding of the underlying photochemical reaction mechanism. The book gives an up-to-date presentation of this research area, covering time-resolved spectroscopy and the dynamical behavior of electronically excited states.

An understanding of dynamical behavior of electronically excited states is of great importance for the understanding of photochemical reaction mechanisms such as photoionization, photoisomerization, photodissociation, proton transfer, radical formation, bond cleavage, and bond formation. Thus the molecular structures of excited states, as defined by their potential energy surfaces, are closely related to the reaction mechanisms. In this text twelve leading experts present their recent experimental and theoretical findings on electronic excited states. Several chapters deal with the determination of molecular structures in excited states whereas others deal with the reaction dynamics involving these states. Progress toward manipulation and control of reactions using lasers in various laboratories around the world is also described.