Excited-state Raman spectra transition metal complexes

TR methods were originally developed in om laboratories to study excited-state structures and dynamics of transition metal complexes such as Ru + (bpy)s and metaUoproteins. TR measurements rely on a pump-probe approach in which two separate laser pulses are used, one to excite the system and the other to probe the transient Raman spectrum. The time resolution of the experiment is determined by the width of the laser pulses (typically 7 ns for a Q-switched laser or as short as 1 ps for a mode-locked laser). The pulses are variably delayed with respect to one another to achieve time resolution, either by optically dela)dng the probe pulse with respect to the pump pulse or by electronically delaying two independently tunable lasers. Thus, two different approaches are required depending on the time scale of interest. The fastest timescale (from 10 to 10 s) requires optical delay to achieve sufficiently short separation between the pump and probe pulses. In such a scheme, the probe pulse is sent through a fixed path, but the pump pulse is sent through a variable path that can be scanned. Since hght travels about 1 ft per ns, a difference in pathlength of a few feet is sufficient. The second approach typically uses two Q-switched Nd YAG lasers that are electronically delayed with respect to one another, to access... 

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