<p>Quantum dynamics is the study of time-dependent phenomena in fundamental processes of atomic and molecular systems. This thesis focuses on systems where nature reveals its quantum aspect; e.g. in vibrational resonance structures, in wave packet revivals and in matter wave interferometry. Grid based numerical methods for solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation are implemented for simulating time resolved molecular vibrations and to compute photo-electron spectra, without the necessity of diagonalizing a large matrix to find eigenvalues and eigenvectors.</p><p>Pump-probe femtosecond laser spectroscopy on the sodium potassium molecule, showing a vibrational period of 450 fs, is theoretically simulated. We find agreement with experiment by inclusion of the finite length laser pulse and finite temperature effects.</p><p>Complicated resonance structures observed experimentally in photo-electron spectra of hydrogen- and deuterium chloride is analyzed by a numerical computation of the spectra. The dramatic difference in the two spectra arises from non-adiabatic interactions, i.e. the interplay between nuclear and electron dynamics. We suggest new potential curves for the 3²Σ⁺ and 4²Σ⁺ states in HCI⁺.</p><p>It is possible to guide slow atoms along magnetic potentials like light is guided in optical fibers. Quantum mechanics dictates that matter can show wave properties. A proposal for a multi mode matter wave interferometer on an atom chip is studied by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in two dimensions. The results verifies a possible route for an experimental realization.</p><p>An improved representation for wave functions using a discrete set of coherent states is presented. We develop a practical method for computing the expansion coefficients in this non-orthogonal set. It is built on the concept of frames, and introduces an iterative method for computing a representation of the identity operator. The phase-space localization property of the coherent states gives adaptability and better sampling efficiency.</p>

Quantum dynamics is the study of time-dependent phenomena in fundamental processes of atomic and molecular systems. This thesis focuses on systems where nature reveals its quantum aspect; e.g. in vibrational resonance structures, in wave packet revivals and in matter wave interferometry. Grid based numerical methods for solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation are implemented for simulating time resolved molecular vibrations and to compute photo-electron spectra, without the necessity of diagonalizing a large matrix to find eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Pump-probe femtosecond laser spectroscopy on the sodium potassium molecule, showing a vibrational period of 450 fs, is theoretically simulated. We find agreement with experiment by inclusion of the finite length laser pulse and finite temperature effects. Complicated resonance structures observed experimentally in photo-electron spectra of hydrogen- and deuterium chloride is analyzed by a numerical computation of the spectra. The dramatic difference in the two spectra arises from non-adiabatic interactions, i.e. the interplay between nuclear and electron dynamics. We suggest new potential curves for the 32Σ+ and 42Σ+ states in HCI+. It is possible to guide slow atoms along magnetic potentials like light is guided in optical fibers. Quantum mechanics dictates that matter can show wave properties. A proposal for a multi mode matter wave interferometer on an atom chip is studied by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation in two dimensions. The results verifies a possible route for an experimental realization. An improved representation for wave functions using a discrete set of coherent states is presented. We develop a practical method for computing the expansion coefficients in this non-orthogonal set. It is built on the concept of frames, and introduces an iterative method for computing a representation of the identity operator. The phase-space localization property of the coherent states gives adaptability and better sampling efficiency.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

This Ph.D. thesis is an exploration of carotenoids by ultrafast, time-resolved absorption spectroscopy to investigate their complicated relaxation processes, means of energy transfer, and dependence on structure. The introduction begins with an overview of carotenoids, intended for the reader to appreciate their importance and their complexity as revealed by decades of research in carotenoid photophysics. To understand the primary concerns of this research field, the reader is guided through basic theory of energetic processes, the experimental method, and methods of analysis. The main body of the text is the Research Chapter, containing four sections, each describing research using varied ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopies on carotenoids in solution and when bound to a host protein. Section 2.1 concerns an equilibration phenomenon in the lowest excited state of the carotenoid fucoxanthin in various solutions and temperatures by a multi-pulse transient absorption method. The same method is applied to fucoxanthin in a host antennae protein of the pennate diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum to investigate the function of the equilibration in energy transfer to Chlorophyll a in Section 2.2. The next two sections regard the effect of carotenoid structure on its relaxation dynamics. Section 2.3 investigates the effect of the non-conjugated acyloxy group of two fucoxanthin derivatives in various solvents. Here, one of the energetic states involved in the equilibrium mentioned above is seen drastically affected. Lastly, Section 2.4 investigates alloxanthin, a carotenoid with an unusual pair of carbon-carbon triple bonds. Their effect on the conjugation is evaluated based upon the molecules' decay dynamics. A general summary and conclusion is provided at the end.

<p>Early processes following photon absorption by the photosynthetic pigment-protein complex photosystem I (PS I) have been the subject of decades of research, yet many questions remain in this area of study. Among the trickiest to investigate is the role of the PS I reaction center’s (RC’s) two accessory (A_‑1) chlorophyll (Chl) cofactors as primary electron donors or acceptors, oxidizing the special pair (P₇₀₀) of Chls or reducing a nominal primary electron acceptor (A₀) Chl in the first electron transfer step. Such processes, which occur on a picosecond timescale, have long been studied via ultrafast spectroscopy, though difficulty lies in distinguishing among signals from early processes, which have similar lifetimes and involve many identical pigments. In this work, we used steady-state and ultrafast optical pump-probe spectroscopies on PS I trimers from wildtype and mutant strains of the cyanobacterium <i>Synechocystis</i> sp. PCC 6803 in which an asparagine amino acid residue near A_‑1 had been replaced with methionine on one or both sides of the RC. We also conducted an identical set of experiments on mutants in which A₀ was similarly targeted, as well as studied the effects on the A₀ absorption spectrum of a third category of mutations in which a peripheral H‑bond to A₀ was lost. Steady-state absorption spectroscopy revealed that many of these mutations caused mild Chl deficiencies in the light-capturing antenna of PS I without necessarily preventing organisms’ growth. More importantly, we determined that contrary to certain hypotheses, A_‑1 is the most likely true first electron acceptor, as reasoned from observing rapid triplet state formation in double A_‑1 mutants. We also concluded from non-additive detrimental effects of single-side mutations that if one RC branch is damaged at the level of A₀ or A_‑1, electron transfer may be redirected along the intact branch. This may help explain the conservation of two functional RC branches in PS I over many generations of natural selection, despite the additional cost to organisms of manufacturing both.</p>

In this thesis, quantum dynamical simulations are performed in order to describe the vibrational motion of diatomic molecules in a highly quantum environment, so-called helium droplets. We aim to reproduce and explain experimental findings which were obtained from dimers on helium droplets. Nanometer-sized helium droplets contain several thousands of 4-He atoms. They serve as a host for embedded atoms or molecules and provide an ultracold “refrigerator” for them. Spectroscopy of molecules in or on these droplets reveals information on both the molecule and the helium environment. The droplets are known to be in the superfluid He II phase. Superfluidity in nanoscale systems is a steadily growing field of research. Spectra obtained from full quantum simulations for the unperturbed dimer show deviations from measurements with dimers on helium droplets. These deviations result from the influence of the helium environment on the dimer dynamics. In this work, a well-established quantum optical master equation is used in order to describe the dimer dynamics effectively. The master equation allows to describe damping fully quantum mechanically. By employing that equation in the quantum dynamical simulation, one can study the role of dissipation and decoherence in dimers on helium droplets. The effective description allows to explain experiments with Rb-2 dimers on helium droplets. Here, we identify vibrational damping and associated decoherence as the main explanation for the experimental results. The relation between decoherence and dissipation in Morse-like systems at zero temperature is studied in more detail. The dissipative model is also used to investigate experiments with K-2 dimers on helium droplets. However, by comparing numerical simulations with experimental data, one finds that further mechanisms are active. Here, a good agreement is obtained through accounting for rapid desorption of dimers. We find that decoherence occurs in the electronic manifold of the molecule. Finally, we are able to examine whether superfluidity of the host does play a role in these experiments. / In dieser Dissertation werden quantendynamische Simulationen durchgeführt, um die Schwingungsbewegung zweiatomiger Moleküle in einer hochgradig quantenmechanischen Umgebung, sogenannten Heliumtröpfchen, zu beschreiben. Unser Ziel ist es, experimentelle Befunde zu reproduzieren und zu erklären, die von Dimeren auf Heliumtröpfchen erhalten wurden. Nanometergroße Heliumtröpfchen enthalten einige tausend 4-He Atome. Sie dienen als Wirt für eingebettete Atome oder Moleküle und stellen für dieseeinen ultrakalten „Kühlschrank“ bereit. Durch Spektroskopie mit Molekülen in oder auf diesen Tröpfchen erhält man Informationen sowohl über das Molekül selbst als auch über die Heliumumgebung. Man weiß, dass sich die Tröpfchen in der suprafluiden He II Phase befinden. Suprafluidität in Nanosystemen ist ein stetig wachsendes Forschungsgebiet. Spektren, die für das ungestörte Dimer durch voll quantenmechanische Simulationen erhalten werden, weichen von Messungen mit Dimeren auf Heliumtröpfchen ab. Diese Abweichungen lassen sich auf den Einfluss der Heliumumgebung auf die Dynamik des Dimers zurückführen. In dieser Arbeit wird eine etablierte quantenoptische Mastergleichung verwendet, um die Dynamik des Dimers effektiv zu beschreiben. Die Mastergleichung erlaubt es, Dämpfung voll quantenmechanisch zu beschreiben. Durch Verwendung dieser Gleichung in der Quantendynamik-Simulation lässt sich die Rolle von Dissipation und Dekohärenz in Dimeren auf Heliumtröpfchen untersuchen. Die effektive Beschreibung erlaubt es, Experimente mit Rb-2 Dimeren zu erklären. In diesen Untersuchungen wird Dissipation und die damit verbundene Dekohärenz im Schwingungsfreiheitsgrad als maßgebliche Erklärung für die experimentellen Resultate identifiziert. Die Beziehung zwischen Dekohärenz und Dissipation in Morse-artigen Systemen bei Temperatur Null wird genauer untersucht. Das Dissipationsmodell wird auch verwendet, um Experimente mit K-2 Dimeren auf Heliumtröpfchen zu untersuchen. Wie sich beim Vergleich von numerischen Simulationen mit experimentellen Daten allerdings herausstellt, treten weitere Mechanismen auf. Eine gute Übereinstimmung wird erzielt, wenn man eine schnelle Desorption der Dimere berücksichtigt. Wir stellen fest, dass ein Dekohärenzprozess im elektronischen Freiheitsgrad des Moleküls auftritt. Schlussendlich sind wir in der Lage herauszufinden, ob Suprafluidität des Wirts in diesen Experimenten eine Rolle spielt.

In this thesis, quantum dynamical simulations are performed in order to describe the vibrational motion of diatomic molecules in a highly quantum environment, so-called helium droplets. We aim to reproduce and explain experimental findings which were obtained from dimers on helium droplets. Nanometer-sized helium droplets contain several thousands of 4-He atoms. They serve as a host for embedded atoms or molecules and provide an ultracold “refrigerator” for them. Spectroscopy of molecules in or on these droplets reveals information on both the molecule and the helium environment. The droplets are known to be in the superfluid He II phase. Superfluidity in nanoscale systems is a steadily growing field of research. Spectra obtained from full quantum simulations for the unperturbed dimer show deviations from measurements with dimers on helium droplets. These deviations result from the influence of the helium environment on the dimer dynamics. In this work, a well-established quantum optical master equation is used in order to describe the dimer dynamics effectively. The master equation allows to describe damping fully quantum mechanically. By employing that equation in the quantum dynamical simulation, one can study the role of dissipation and decoherence in dimers on helium droplets. The effective description allows to explain experiments with Rb-2 dimers on helium droplets. Here, we identify vibrational damping and associated decoherence as the main explanation for the experimental results. The relation between decoherence and dissipation in Morse-like systems at zero temperature is studied in more detail. The dissipative model is also used to investigate experiments with K-2 dimers on helium droplets. However, by comparing numerical simulations with experimental data, one finds that further mechanisms are active. Here, a good agreement is obtained through accounting for rapid desorption of dimers. We find that decoherence occurs in the electronic manifold of the molecule. Finally, we are able to examine whether superfluidity of the host does play a role in these experiments. / In dieser Dissertation werden quantendynamische Simulationen durchgeführt, um die Schwingungsbewegung zweiatomiger Moleküle in einer hochgradig quantenmechanischen Umgebung, sogenannten Heliumtröpfchen, zu beschreiben. Unser Ziel ist es, experimentelle Befunde zu reproduzieren und zu erklären, die von Dimeren auf Heliumtröpfchen erhalten wurden. Nanometergroße Heliumtröpfchen enthalten einige tausend 4-He Atome. Sie dienen als Wirt für eingebettete Atome oder Moleküle und stellen für dieseeinen ultrakalten „Kühlschrank“ bereit. Durch Spektroskopie mit Molekülen in oder auf diesen Tröpfchen erhält man Informationen sowohl über das Molekül selbst als auch über die Heliumumgebung. Man weiß, dass sich die Tröpfchen in der suprafluiden He II Phase befinden. Suprafluidität in Nanosystemen ist ein stetig wachsendes Forschungsgebiet. Spektren, die für das ungestörte Dimer durch voll quantenmechanische Simulationen erhalten werden, weichen von Messungen mit Dimeren auf Heliumtröpfchen ab. Diese Abweichungen lassen sich auf den Einfluss der Heliumumgebung auf die Dynamik des Dimers zurückführen. In dieser Arbeit wird eine etablierte quantenoptische Mastergleichung verwendet, um die Dynamik des Dimers effektiv zu beschreiben. Die Mastergleichung erlaubt es, Dämpfung voll quantenmechanisch zu beschreiben. Durch Verwendung dieser Gleichung in der Quantendynamik-Simulation lässt sich die Rolle von Dissipation und Dekohärenz in Dimeren auf Heliumtröpfchen untersuchen. Die effektive Beschreibung erlaubt es, Experimente mit Rb-2 Dimeren zu erklären. In diesen Untersuchungen wird Dissipation und die damit verbundene Dekohärenz im Schwingungsfreiheitsgrad als maßgebliche Erklärung für die experimentellen Resultate identifiziert. Die Beziehung zwischen Dekohärenz und Dissipation in Morse-artigen Systemen bei Temperatur Null wird genauer untersucht. Das Dissipationsmodell wird auch verwendet, um Experimente mit K-2 Dimeren auf Heliumtröpfchen zu untersuchen. Wie sich beim Vergleich von numerischen Simulationen mit experimentellen Daten allerdings herausstellt, treten weitere Mechanismen auf. Eine gute Übereinstimmung wird erzielt, wenn man eine schnelle Desorption der Dimere berücksichtigt. Wir stellen fest, dass ein Dekohärenzprozess im elektronischen Freiheitsgrad des Moleküls auftritt. Schlussendlich sind wir in der Lage herauszufinden, ob Suprafluidität des Wirts in diesen Experimenten eine Rolle spielt.

Diarylethene sind molekulare Schalter, welche sich unter Einwirkung von Licht zwischen einem offenen und einem geschlossenen Isomer umwandeln. Die Effizienz dieser beiden Photoreaktionen ist von verschiedenen Parametern abhängig, welche bisher nur unzureichend verstanden sind. Ein entscheidender Faktor für die Hinreaktion ist das Verhältnis zweier Konformere, von denen jedoch nur eines photochemisch aktiv ist. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird eine neue Klasse von Diarylethenen beschrieben, in welcher die aktive Konformation durch kovalente Verbrückungen unterschiedlicher Länge stabilisiert wird. Gleichzeitigeröffnet sich ein zusätzlicher Reaktionspfad in Form einer Doppelbindungsisomerisierung. Es stellte sich heraus, dass bei geeigneter Verbrückungslänge das zyklisierte Isomer mit ungewöhnlich hoher Effizienz gebildet wird, während die Effizienz der Ringöffnung nicht beeinflusst wird. Der Mechanismus und die Dynamik der Photoreaktion wurden anhand ausgewählter Vertreter durch Ultrakurzzeitspektroskopie untersucht. Weiterhin konnte gezeigt werden, dass der Ringschluss auch durch elektrochemische Oxidation oder Reduktion erfolgen kann. Die vorgestellten Systeme agieren bei direkter photochemischer Anregung wie herkömmliche Diarylethene nur im Ringschluss/Ringöffnungsregime. Durch Tripletsensibilisierung kann jedoch eine selektive Z→E Isomerisierung erzielt werden, was diese Diarylethenklasse zu reversiblen 3-Zustandssystemen erweitert. In Erweiterung des Projektes wurde die Struktur des Diarylethens noch stärker fixiert. Nach vielseitigen Syntheseversuchen konnten zwei Vertreter dieser Klasse erhalten und photochemisch untersucht werden, wobei ein Umsatz zu etwa 60% zyklisiertem Isomer bei der Bestrahlung mit UV-Licht gefunden wurde. Zusammengefasst stellt die kovalente Verbrückung der Diarylethenstruktur eine erfolgreiche Strategie dar, um sowohl die Effizienz der Ringschlussreaktion zu steigern als auch photochrome Verbindungen mit drei Schaltzuständen zu kreieren. / Diarylethenes are molecular switches that interconvert reversibly between an open and a closed isomer by irradiation with light. The efficiency of both photochemical reactions depends on several parameters, which, so far, are only insufficiently understood. One important factor in the cyclization reaction is the presence of two conformations of the open isomer of which only one is photochemically active. In the current work, a new class of diarylethenes is presented, in which the active conformation is covalently stabilized by alkyl chains of different lengths. As the central double bond is not fixated, double bond isomerization emerges as an additional pathway in these annulated diarylethenes. In dependence of the chosen ring size both open isomers convert with increased efficiency to the closed isomer upon irradiation. The efficiency of the cycloreversion process remains unaffected. The mechanism and dynamic of the photoreaction were investigated for selected compounds using transient absorption spectroscopy. Furthermore, electrochemical studies revealed that both the E- and the Z-isomer cyclize rapidly upon anodic oxidation or cathodic reduction. In general, the photochemical reactivity of annulated diarylethenes parallels that of normal diarylethenes and takes place exclusively in the cyclization/cycloreversion regime if irradiated directly. However, it was demonstrated that a selective Z→E double bond isomerization is possible, thus implementing a 3-state photoswitchable system. In extension of the project, the structure of diarylethenes was further stiffened. Using diverse synthetic approaches, two members of this class could be obtained. Photochemical investigation showed a conversion to the closed isomer of 60% upon irradiation with UV-light. In brief, the covalent fixation of diarylethenes represents an attractive strategy to increase the efficiency of the photochemical cyclization and extent the scope of diarylethenes to 3-state photochromic systems.

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