Ultrafast electron diffraction is a powerful technique that can resolve molecular structures with femtosecond and angstrom resolutions. We demonstrate theoretically how it can be used to monitor conical intersection dynamics in molecules. Specific contributions to the signal are identified which vanish in the absence of vibronic coherence and offer a direct window into conical intersection paths. A special focus is on hybrid scattering from nuclei and electrons, a process that is unique to electron (rather than X-ray) diffraction and monitors the strongly coupled nuclear and electronic motions in the vicinity of conical intersections. An application is made to the cis to trans isomerization of azobenzene, computed with exact quantum dynamics wavepacket propagation in a reactive two-dimensional nuclear space.

Rouxel J.R., Keefer D., Aleotti F., Nenov A., Garavelli M., Mukamel S. (2022). Coupled Electronic and Nuclear Motions during Azobenzene Photoisomerization Monitored by Ultrafast Electron Diffraction. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL THEORY AND COMPUTATION, 18(2), 605-613 [10.1021/acs.jctc.1c00792].

Coupled Electronic and Nuclear Motions during Azobenzene Photoisomerization Monitored by Ultrafast Electron Diffraction

Aleotti F.;Nenov A.;Garavelli M.;
2022

Abstract

Ultrafast electron diffraction is a powerful technique that can resolve molecular structures with femtosecond and angstrom resolutions. We demonstrate theoretically how it can be used to monitor conical intersection dynamics in molecules. Specific contributions to the signal are identified which vanish in the absence of vibronic coherence and offer a direct window into conical intersection paths. A special focus is on hybrid scattering from nuclei and electrons, a process that is unique to electron (rather than X-ray) diffraction and monitors the strongly coupled nuclear and electronic motions in the vicinity of conical intersections. An application is made to the cis to trans isomerization of azobenzene, computed with exact quantum dynamics wavepacket propagation in a reactive two-dimensional nuclear space.
2022
Rouxel J.R., Keefer D., Aleotti F., Nenov A., Garavelli M., Mukamel S. (2022). Coupled Electronic and Nuclear Motions during Azobenzene Photoisomerization Monitored by Ultrafast Electron Diffraction. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL THEORY AND COMPUTATION, 18(2), 605-613 [10.1021/acs.jctc.1c00792].
Rouxel J.R.; Keefer D.; Aleotti F.; Nenov A.; Garavelli M.; Mukamel S.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/899335
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