Stark spectroscopy probes molecular structures by coupling them to an electrostatic field, enabling the characterization of properties like the electrostatic dipole or the polarizability both in the ground and in the excited states. In fact, due to the fast rotational times, it is not possible to use such an approach for free molecular systems, which would align to the external field faster than what required to collect the signal. Here, fast terahertz pulses are used to probe the sample in sufficiently narrow time-windows, allowing molecular Stark spectroscopy in liquid samples.
Electronic structure calculations done by Dr. Alex Borgoo and Prof. Michele Cascella at the Hylleraas Centre provided means for the interpretation of the experimental signals.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48164-w
Date of publication: May 17th 2024.
Authors: Bong Joo Kang, Egmont J. Rohwer, David Rohrbach, Elnaz Zyaee, Maryam Akbarimoosavi, Zoltan Ollmann, Gleb Sorohhov, Alex Borgoo, Michele Cascella, Andrea Cannizzo, Silvio Decurtins, Robert J. Stanley, Shi-Xia Liu, Thomas Feurer.
Research funded by Hylleraas.