Relaxation in condensed media

Diestler D. J., Wilson R. S. Quantum dynamics of vibrational relaxation in condensed media, J. Chem. Phys. 62, 1572-8 (1975). 

Even though Sun and Rice suggested more than 20 years ago that one should be able to describe relaxation in condensed media independently of the phase (solid, glass, or liquid), very little progress in this direction has been made in the intervening period. The reasons for this hiatus are both experimental and theoretical. Most available data on energy relaxation in solids... 

Vibrational Relaxation. Stochastic processes, including vibrational relaxation in condensed media, have been considered from a theoretical standpoint in an extensive review,502 and a further review has considered measurement of such processes also.503 Models have been presented for vibrational relaxation in diatomic liquids 504 and in condensed media,505 using a master-equation approach. An extensive development of quantum ergodic theory for relaxation processes has been published,506 and quantum resonance effects in electronic to vibrational energy transfer have been considered.507 A paper has also considered the coupling between vibrational relaxation and molecular electronic transitions.508 A theory has also been outlined for the time-resolved electronic absorption spectrum of a molecule undergoing collisional vibrational relaxation.509... 

The rate and mechanism of vibrational energy and phase relaxation in condensed media are both determined by the structure and the nature of the solute-solvent interactions. Vibrational relaxation is of fundamental importance for understanding chemical reaction dynamics. Although many experimental and theoretical studies have focused on the relaxation of solute molecules in bulk liquids, ° " far less has been done at liquid surfaces. 

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