The 1B(u)(+)-> 3A(g)(-)-> 1B(u)(-)-> 2A(g)(-) internal conversion in carotenoids following the energy-gap law identified by 5 fs spectroscopy

Ikuta M; Yabushita A; Rondonuwu FS; Akahane J; Koyama Y; Kobayashi T

Chemical Physics Letters, Vol.422, No.1-3, 95-99, 2006

DOI10.1016/j.cplett.2006.02.042 Export Citation

The 1B(u)(+)-> 3A(g)(-)-> 1B(u)(-)-> 2A(g)(-) internal conversion in carotenoids following the energy-gap law identified by 5 fs spectroscopy

Ikuta M, Yabushita A, Rondonuwu FS, Akahane J, Koyama Y, Kobayashi T

Sub-5 fs time-resolved absorption spectra were recorded for carotenoids with 11, 12, and 13 double bonds. Singular-value decomposition followed by global fitting of the spectral data identified the stepwise internal conversion processes of 1B(u)(+) -> 3A(g)(-) -> 1B(u)(-) -> 2A(g)(-), and determined the difference-spectral patterns and the lifetimes of these singlet-excited states were determined. The rate in each step of internal conversion was found to follow the energy-gap law among the set of carotenoids. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.