Abstract

In this paper, we report the results of the first direct IR-pump/variable-wavelength-probe time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy on the solvated electron in room-temperature alcohols. We also describe extensive new results on the solvated electron in water. The experiments employ a three laser pulse sequence, where an ultraviolet (UV) synthesis pulse (390 nm, 25-30 μJ, 2 kHz) generates excess electrons by two photon photodetatchment of I⁻. After a delay of ~4 ns, the resultant equilibrated electrons are promoted to the electronically excited p-state by an IR-pump pulse (780 nm, 3-25 μJ, 2 kHz), with the resulting spectral dynamics interrogated by a variable-wavelength (500 – 1000 nm) probe pulse.

© 1994 Optical Society of America