@phdthesis{Dietzek2005, author = {Dietzek, Benjamin}, title = {Ultrafast linear and non-linear spectroscopy : from biological light-receptors to artificial light-harvesting systems}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-15684}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2005}, abstract = {In the experiments presented in this work, linear and non-linear femtosecond time-resolved spectrsocopy were applied to investigate the structure-function and functiondynamics relationship in biological and artificially designed systems. The experiments presented in this work utilize femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption and transient grating as well as picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate the photophysics and photochemistry of biological photoreceptors and address the light-induced excited-state processes in a particular molecular device that serves as a - structurally - very simple light-harvesting antenna and potentially as a catalysis-switch for the production of hydrogen in solution. The combination of white-light probe transient absorption and coherent transient grating spectroscopies yields spectral information about the excited state absorption in concert with high quality, high signal-to-noise kinetic transients, which allow for precise fitting and therefore very accurate time-constants to be extracted from the data. The use of femtosecond time-resolved transient grating spectroscopy is relatively uncommon in addressing questions concerning the excited-state reaction pathways of complex (biological) systems, and therefore the experiments presented in this work constitute according to the literature the first studies applying this technique to a a metalloporphyrin and an artificial light-harvesting antenna.}, subject = {Femtosekundenspektroskopie}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Szeghalmi2005, author = {Szeghalmi, Adriana Viorica}, title = {The ground and excited state molecular structure of model systems undergoing photochemical processes and the characterization of active agents by means of vibrational spectroscopy and theoretical calculations}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-11961}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2005}, abstract = {The present thesis reports about vibrational and quantum chemical investigations on model systems undergoing photochemical processes and pharmaceutically active compounds, respectively. Infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy were applied for the characterization of the ground state molecular structure. Moreover, resonance Raman (RR) spectra contain additional information about the resonantly enhanced excited state molecular structure. A quantitative resonance Raman intensity analysis in conjunction with the simultaneous simulation of the absorption spectra by means of time-dependent propagation methods was accomplished in order to extract valuable information about the excited state molecular structures of the investigated systems. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) allows one to determine the interaction and adsorption site of active agents on a metal substrate. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) and potential energy distribution (PED) calculations were carried out for an exact assignment of the vibrational spectra. Complete active space self consistent field (CASSCF) and configuration interaction (CI) calculations for some model systems were also performed to assess the experimental results on the excited state potential surfaces. The fundamentals of resonance Raman spectroscopy are treated in detail, describing the physical processes and emphasizing the theoretical methodologies which allow one to obtain the information about the resonantly excited state via an RR intensity analysis. The Brownian oscillator model to determine the solvent reorganization energy is briefly presented. Furthermore, the SERS enhancement mechanisms and selection rules to determine the orientation of the molecules adsorbed on the metal substrate are discussed. The Hartree-Fock approach to calculate the ground state geometry is expatiated, and the basic characteristics of the CI and CASSCF calculations are specified. The chapter ends with a short description of the DFT calculations. Chapter 4 deals with the investigation of the excited state intramolecular proton transfer of the model system, 1-hydroxy-2-acetonaphthone (HAN). The vibrations showing the highest displacement parameters correspond to stretching and in-plane deformation modes of the naphthalene ring and the conjugated carbonyl group, while the OH stretching mode exhibits no observable enhancement. The cooperative effect of the skeletal vibrations reduces the distance between the carbonyl and hydroxyl oxygen atoms in accordance with a general electron density redistribution. Hence, the leading force in the proton transfer process is the increase in electron density on the carbonyl group and the decrease of the negative charge on the hydroxyl oxygen. In chapter 5 the structural and vibrational characteristics of the organic mixed valence system N,N,N',N'-tetraphenylphenylenediamine radical cation (1+) are discussed. The resonance Raman measurements showed that at least eight vibrational modes are strongly coupled to the optical charge transfer process in (1+). These Franck-Condon active modes were assigned to symmetric vibrations. The most enhanced band corresponds to the symmetric stretching mode along the N-phenylene-N unit and exhibits the largest vibrational reorganization energy. Nevertheless, symmetric stretching modes of the phenylene and phenyl units as well as deformation modes are also coupled to the electronic process. The total vibrational reorganization energy of these symmetrical modes is dominant, while the solvent induced broadening and reorganization energy are found to be small. Hence, (1+) adopts a symmetrical delocalized Robin-Day Class III structure in the ground state. Chapter 6 reports about a vibrational spectroscopic investigation of a model organic photorefractive thiophene derivative, 2-(N,N-diethylamino)-5-(2',2'-dicyanovinyl)-thiophene. The geometry of the first excited state were optimized and the FC parameters were calculated using the configuration interaction with single excitations method. These calculations show that the contribution of the zwitterionic structure to the excited state is significantly higher than in the ground state. The resonance Raman spectra indicate that several stretching modes along the bonds connecting the donor and acceptor moieties as well as the S-C stretching vibrations are enhanced. Chapter 7 presents the vibrational analysis of an aziridinyl tripeptide, a cysteine protease inhibitor active drug. The vibrational analysis reveals stronger H-bonding of the aziridine NH unit in the solid state of the aziridinyl tripeptide than in the liquid electrophilic building block, indicating medium strong intermolecular H-bond interactions in the crystal unit. The amide hydrogen atoms of the aziridinyl tripeptide are involved in weaker H-bonds than in an epoxide analogon. Furthermore, the characteristic vibrational modes of the peptide backbone were discussed. Chapter 8 reports on the adsorption mechanism of two related anti-leukemia active agents, 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) and 6-mercaptopurine-ribose (6MPR) on a silver colloid. Both molecules adsorb through the N1 and possibly S atom on the metal surface under basic conditions. The SERS spectra recorded for acidic pH values showed that the ribose derivative exhibits a different adsorption behavior compared to the free base. 6MP probably adsorbs on the silver sol through the N9 and N3 atoms, while 6MPR interacts with the surface via the N7 and probably S atoms. Around critical biological concentrations and pH values i.e. at low concentrations and almost neutral condition (pH 7-9), 6MPR interacts with the substrate through both N7 and N1 atoms, possibly forming two differently adsorbed species, while for 6MP only the species adsorbed via N1 was evidenced.}, subject = {Photochemie}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Maksimenka2005, author = {Maksimenka, Raman}, title = {Techniques in frequency conversion and time-resolved spectroscopy with nonlinear optical processes in the femtosecond regime}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-14087}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Nichtlineare Frequenzumsetzung der niederenergetischen femtosekunden Laserpulsen wurde in den Festk{\"o}rpermitteln nachgeforscht. Ramanumwandlung im weiss-Licht-freien Regime des impulsiven stimulierten Raman Streuungs wurde erzielt, indem man KGW-Kristall mit den Bessel-Lichtstrahl pumpte. Leistungs-f{\"a}higes Superkontinuumerzeugung wurde f{\"u}r die sub-microjule Pulse demonstriert, die in Mikrostrukturfaser fokussiert wurden. Anwendung von Vier-Wellen-Mischung Techniken zur {\"U}berwachung der Aufregenzustandsdynamik in den mehratomigen Molek{\"u}len wurde demonstriert. Zeitkonstanten der Prozesse, die auf Schwingungsenergiewiederverteilung nach dem ursprunglichen Photoanregung von Stilben-3 bezogen wurden, wurden mittels der Pump-CARS Technik festgestellt, in der CARS-Prozess als wirkungsvoller Modus-vorgew{\"a}hlter Filter diente. Spektrale sowie zeitliche Eigenschaften der elektronischen Entspannungbahnen in den Azulenderivats wurden erforscht, indem man verg{\"a}nglichen-Bev{\"o}lkerungs-Gittern und Pump-Probe verg{\"a}nglichen Absorptions Techniken verwendete.}, subject = {Frequenzumsetzung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Bradeanu2005, author = {Bradeanu, Ioana Lavinia}, title = {Photoionization and excitation of free variable size van der Waals clusters in the inner shell regime}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-16372}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2005}, abstract = {The studies presented in this thesis deal with resonant and non-resonant excitation of free variable size clusters using synchrotron radiation in the soft X-ray regime. The post collision interaction (PCI) effect is investigated in free variable size krypton and argon clusters near the Kr 3d and Ar 2p ionization energies. The core ionization energies of surface and bulk sites in variable size clusters can be clearly distinguished. This is mostly due to the polarization screening. It is found that the asymmetry, which is a consequence of PCI, is characteristically smaller for clusters than for isolated atoms. Moreover, there is less asymmetry for bulk sites than for surface sites in variable size rare gas clusters. We assign the results in terms of mechanisms that are based on quantum mechanical models of post collision interaction. Complementary experiments on the photoionization of free van der Waals clusters are performed by using zero kinetic energy (ZEKE) photoelectron spectroscopy in the Ar 2p-, Kr 3d-, Ne 1s-, and N2-regimes. The experimental approach is also suitable to detect cluster size dependent changes in electronic structure. This also allows us to study post collision interaction in variable size clusters. The parameters of the PCI profiles deduced for ZEKE experiments indicate that there are no significant changes in core ionization dynamics compared to near-threshold experiments. Results from model calculations in Kr 3d ionization energy indicate that different geometric sites can be clearly distinguished from each other by their substantial shift in Kr 3d ionization energy, though the dimer shows almost the same Kr 3d ionization energy as the free atom. A comparison with the experimental results indicates that there is resemblance with the model calculations, even though close-lying ionization energies are blended and require deconvolutions of the experimental spectra. It is evident from the present work that one can observe distinct shifts in core ionization energies in van der Waals clusters that are formed in wide size distributions of a jet expansion. The emission of ultraviolet fluorescence radiation from variable size argon clusters is investigated with high spectral resolution in the Ar 2p-excitation regime. The fluorescence excitation spectra reveal strong fluorescence intensity in the Ar 2p-continuum, but no evidence for the occurrence of discrete low-lying core-exciton states in the near-edge regime. This finding is different from the absorption and photoionization cross sections of argon clusters and the solid. The dispersed fluorescence shows a broad molecular band centered near 280 nm. The present results are consistent with the formation of singly charged, excited moieties within the clusters, which are assigned as sources of the radiative relaxation in the 280 nm regime. A fast energy transfer process (interatomic Coulombic decay, ICD) is assigned to be primarily the origin of these singly charged, excited cations besides intra-cluster electron impact ionization by Auger electrons. Our findings give possibly the first experimental evidence for ICD in the core level regime. Free, variable size nitrogen clusters are investigated in the N 1s excitation regime in comparison with the free molecule and solid nitrogen. The conversion of Rydberg states into core excitons, surface and bulk, was studied. The experimental results are simulated by ab initio calculations using (N2)13 as a reasonable prototype cluster structure that allows us to simulate both surface and bulk properties in comparison with the isolated molecule. The present results clearly show that there are specific properties, such as molecular orientation, in molecular van der Waals clusters, which do not exist in atomic van der Waals clusters. It is shown that inner and outer surface sites give rise to distinct energy shifts of the low lying surface core excitons.}, subject = {Photoionisation}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Graefe2005, author = {Gr{\"a}fe, Stefanie}, title = {Laser-control of molecular dynamics}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-13388}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2005}, abstract = {In this work a new algorithm to determine quantum control fields from the instantaneous response of systems has been developed. The derived fields allow to establish a direct connection between the applied perturbation and the molecular dynamics. The principle is most easily illustrated in regarding a classical forced oscillator. A particle moving inside the respective potential is accelerated if an external field is applied acting in the same direction as its momentum (heating). In contrary, a deceleration is achieved by a field acting in the opposite direction as the momentum (cooling). Furthermore, when the particle reaches a classical turning point and then changes its direction, the sign of the field has to be changed to further drive the system in the desired way. The frequency of the field therefore is in resonance with the oscillator. This intuitively clear picture of a driven classical oscillator can be used for directing (or controlling) quantum mechanical wave packet motion. The efficiency of the instantaneous dynamics algorithm was demonstrated in treating various model problems, the population transfer in double well potentials, excitation and dissociation of selective modes, and the population transfer between electronic states. Although it was not tried to optimize the fields to gain higher yields, the control was found to be very efficient. Driving population transfer in a double well potential could be shown to take place with nearly 100\% efficiency. It was shown that selective dissociation within the electronic ground state of HOD can be performed by either maximizing a selected coordinate's differential momentum change or the energy absorption. Concerning the population transfer into excited electronic states, a direct comparison with common control algorithms as optimal control theory and genetic algorithms was accomplished using a one-dimensional representation of methyl iodide. The fields derived from the various control theories were effective in transferring population into the chosen target state but the underlying physical background of the derived optimal fields was not obvious to explain. The instantaneous dynamics algorithm allowed to establish a direct relation between the derived fields and the underlying molecular dynamics. Bound-to-bound transitions could be handled more effectively. This was demonstrated on the sodium dimer in a representation of 3 electronic states being initially in its vibronic ground state. The objective was to transfer population into a predefined excited state. Choosing the first or the second state as a target, the control fields exhibited quite different features. The pulse-structure is related to the excited state wave packet, moving in, and out of the Franck-Condon region. Changing the control objective, the derived control field performed pure electronic transitions on a fast time-scale via a two-step transition. Futhermore, orientational effects have been investigated. The overall-efficiency of the population transfer for differently oriented molecules was about 70 \% or more if applying a control field derived for a 45° orientation. Spectroscopic methods to gain information about the outcome of the control process have been investigated. It was shown that pump/probe femtosecond ionization spectroscopy is suited to monitor time-dependent molecular probability distributions. In particular, time-dependent photoelectron spectra are able to monitor the population in the various electronic states. In the last chapter a different possibility of controlling molecules was regarded by investigating molecular iodine with a setup similar to the STIRAP ("Stimulated Raman Adiabatic passage") scenario. The possibility to extend this technique to a fs-time scale was examined in theory as well as in experiments, the latter being performed by Dr. Torsten Siebert in the Kiefer group, University of W{\"u}rzburg. It was shown that off-resonant excitation with implementation of the pulses with a higher intensity of the Stokes pulse as compared to the pump pulse - describing a so-called f-STIRAP like configuration - was shown to effectively transfer population into excited ground-state vibrational levels. This was theoretically underlined by comparing the numerically exact coupling case with the adiabatic picture. The process was described to run in the vicinity of adibaticity. A new model explaining the process by the system's vector rotating around the dressed state vector will be adopted in future calculations. Altogether, a new promising algorithm to control dynamical processes based on the instantaneous response has been developed. Because the derived control fields have been shown to be very efficient in selectively influencing molecules, it is to be expected that farther reaching applications can be realized in future investigations.}, subject = {Laserstrahlung}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Babocsi2005, author = {Babocsi, Krisztina}, title = {Characterization of II-VI semiconductor nanostructures by low wavenumber raman- and four-wave-mixing spectroscopy}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-12551}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2005}, abstract = {Es ist bekannt, dass r{\"a}umlich eingeschr{\"a}nkte Ladungstr{\"a}ger in niederdimensionalen Halbleitern zur Verst{\"a}rkung optischer und elektronischer Eigenschaften solcher Nanostrukturen beitragen. Die Physik des "Quantum Confinements" ist trotz umfangreicher Nachforschungen noch immer nicht v{\"o}llig verstanden. Die vorliegende Arbeit beinhaltet eine qualitative Studie quasi-nulldimensionaler II-VI Halbleiter Nanostrukturen. Es wurden handels{\"u}bliche und w{\"a}rmebehandelte CdSxSe1-x Quantenpunkte (QDs) mittels linearer und nicht-linearer Spektroskopie untersucht. Im Rahmen nicht-resonanter Raman Spektroskopie wurden Schl{\"u}sseleigenschaften der QDs, wie z.B. der Durchmesser und die Gr{\"o}ßenverteilung, bestimmt. Die Anordnung der Energieniveaus in einer atom-{\"a}hnlichen Struktur hat die Verst{\"a}rkung der Intensit{\"a}t akustischer Phononen zur Folge, welche im Bulk nicht nachgewiesen werden k{\"o}nnen. In Nanokristallen sind nur zwei Sorten akustischer Vibrationen Raman-aktiv: Die kugelsymmetrischen (l = 0) und die quadrupolaren (l=2) Vibrationen, die durch linear polarisierte Laserpulse selektiv angeregt werden k{\"o}nnen. Die Gr{\"o}ße der QDs wurde durch Ber{\"u}cksichtigen der Abh{\"a}ngigkeit der Vibrationsfrequenz akustischer Phononen von dem Durchmesser des Nanokristalls berechnet. Die Gr{\"o}ßenverteilung der QDs ist aus dem normalisierten FWHM ("full width at half maximum") der symmetrischen Vibration bestimmt worden. Die Relaxationsprozesse in Quantenpunkten finden auf einer Pikosekundenskala statt, zu deren Untersuchung ultraschnelle Spektroskopiemethoden mit Laserpulsen im Femtosekundenbereich notwendig sind. Es wurden in einer Glasmatrix eingebettete CdS0.6Se0.4 QDs von 9.1 nm Durchmesser mittels Fs-VWM- und Fs-PPT-Spektroskopie untersucht. In beiden F{\"a}llen wurden zirkular polarisierte Fs-Laserpulse eingesetzt. Es ist gezeigt worden, dass die Auswahlregeln f{\"u}r die Polarisation sehr stark von der Symmetrie der Nanokristalle abh{\"a}ngig sind. Es ist gezeigt worden, dass die angeregten Nanokristalle der Symmetriegruppe C2v oder niedriger angeh{\"o}ren und der Nachweis einer hexagonalen Struktur der Nanokristalle wurde erbracht. Die G{\"u}ltigkeit des Vier-Niveau-Modells wurde ebenfalls nachgewiesen. Dieses Modell enth{\"a}lt einen Grundzustand, zwei Exzitonzust{\"a}nde und einen Biexzitonenzustand. Das Entstehen der VWM- und PPT-Signale in verbotenen Polarisationsgeometrien wurde durch das Auftreten starker Coulomb-Wechselwirkung zwischen Exzitonen, die sich in demselben QD befinden, und durch die niedrige Symmetrie der QDs erkl{\"a}rt. Aufgrund der quadratischen Abh{\"a}ngigkeit der Intensit{\"a}ten der VWM-Signale von der Intensit{\"a}t der PPT-Signale, konnten die Ergebnisse der VWM-Messungen durch PPT-Untersuchungen gepr{\"u}ft werden. Die Effizienz der Methode der zirkular polarisierten Fs-VWM-Spektroskopie wurde bei der Untersuchung von in einer Glasmatrix eingebetteten w{\"a}rmebehandelten CdSe Quantenpunkten noch einmal best{\"a}tigt. Die Aufmerksamkeit auf Nicht-Phonon-Relaxationsmechanismen des Grund- und angeregten Zustands des Exzitons gerichtet. Außerdem konnte die Abh{\"a}ngigkeit der Kristallasymmetrie von der Nanopartikelgr{\"o}ße und von den Wachstumsbedingungen abgesch{\"a}tzt werden. Es zeigte sich, dass qualitativ hochwertige Quantenpunkte am effizientesten durch lange Wachstumszeiten bei niedrigen Temperaturen hergestellt werden k{\"o}nnen. Dabei haben die Nanokristalle gen{\"u}gend Zeit f{\"u}r „Nukleation" und nehmen eine symmetrischere Form an. Außerdem ist es nachgewiesen worden, dass die Exzitonrelaxation sehr stark von den Coulomb-Wechselwirkungen zwischen den Ladungstr{\"a}gern abh{\"a}ngt. Die Relaxationsprozesse der Exzitonen werden sowohl durch die Auger Selbstionisation, als auch durch den anschließenden Einfang der Ladungstr{\"a}ger in tiefen Fallen (an der Quantenpunktoberfl{\"a}che und/oder in der dielektrischen Matrix) deutlich verlangsamt. Dadurch wird die Lebensdauer der Exzitonen deutlich verk{\"u}rzt und liegt im Pikosekundenbereich. Die Relaxation der Exzitonen von h{\"o}heren Energieniveaus in den Grundzustand erfolgt auch auf zwei Wegen: Am Anfang des Relaxationsprozesses (t31 ~ 200 fs) ist Auger-Thermalisierung der Ladungstr{\"a}ger f{\"u}r die Relaxation des Elektrons von seinem angeregten 1pe Zustand auf sein niedrigeres 1se Energieniveau verantwortlich. W{\"a}renddessen erfolgt die Relaxation des Lochs sehr schnell {\"u}ber sein dichtes Spektrum von Valenzbandzust{\"a}nden. Diesem Prozess folgt unmittelbar der Einfang der Ladungstr{\"a}ger in tiefen Fallen, die sich an der Nanokristall-Glasmatrix-Grenzfl{\"a}che befinden. Diese Fallen sind eine direkte Konsequenz der Asymmetrie des Nanokristalls: je zahlreicher und je tiefer die Fallen, desto h{\"o}her ist die Asymmetrie des Kristalls. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit ist eine komplette Charakterisierung der in einer Glas- matrix eingebetteten CdSSe-Quantenpunkte gelungen. Die wichtigsten Eigenschaften, wie z.B. die Gr{\"o}ße und die Gr{\"o}ßenverteilung der Quantenpunkte, sind durch polarisierte Raman-Messungen bestimmt worden. Um ein komplettes Bild {\"u}ber die Nanokristalle zu bekommen, sind weitere nicht-lineare Spektroskopiemethoden eingesetzt worden. Polarisierte VWM Spektroskopie wurde zur Untersuchung verschiedener Quantenpunktensembles erfolgreich eingesetzt und daraus sind wertvolle Informationen {\"u}ber die Symmetrie der Nanokristalle gewonnen worden. Weiterhin sind die Exzitonrelaxationsmechanismen beschrieben worden, die die Verst{\"a}rkung der optischen nicht-linearen Eigenschaften und starke Coulomb-Wechselwirkungen zwischen Exzitonen erkl{\"a}ren. Durch die Untersuchung der Auswirkung verschiedener Wachstumsbedingungen auf die Symmetrie der QDs stellt diese Arbeit einen erg{\"a}nzenden Beitrag zu Herstellungsverfahren qualitativ hochwertiger Quantenpunkte dar.}, subject = {Zwei-Sechs-Halbleiter}, language = {en} }