Optically-heterodyne-detected optical Kerr effect (OHD-OKE): Applications in condensed phase dynamics

The ultrafast optically-heterodyne-detected optical Kerr effect (OHD-OKE) is established as a relatively simple tool for recording the ultrafast dynamics of liquids with high temporal resolution and excellent signal-to-noise ratios. The principles and practice of the OHD-OKE method are outlined. Its...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational reviews in physical chemistry Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 75 - 100
Main Authors Smith, Neil A., Meech, Stephen R.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2002
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Summary:The ultrafast optically-heterodyne-detected optical Kerr effect (OHD-OKE) is established as a relatively simple tool for recording the ultrafast dynamics of liquids with high temporal resolution and excellent signal-to-noise ratios. The principles and practice of the OHD-OKE method are outlined. Its application in recording the dynamics of several molecular liquids is described. The data are discussed in terms of the underlying microscopic molecular motions. Orientational motion--both librational and diffusive--is responsible for a significant fraction of the dynamics. Other potential contributions are discussed, but these are less readily assigned. The application of OHD-OKE measurements in interpreting ultrafast studies of the optical dynamics of solutions is discussed. Finally the extension of OHD-OKE methods to record the dynamics of more complex, heterogeneous, media is described.
ISSN:0144-235X
1366-591X
DOI:10.1080/01442350110092701