Femtochemistry

Femtochemistry
Author: Ahmed H. Zewail
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 622
Release: 1994
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9789810217365

These two volumes on Femtochemistry present a timely contribution to a field central to the understanding of the dynamics of the chemical bond. This century has witnessed great strides in time and space resolutions, down to the atomic scale, providing chemists, biologists and physicists with unprecedented opportunities for seeing microscopic structures and dynamics. Femtochemistry is concerned with the time resolution of the most elementary motions of atoms during chemical change -- bond breaking and bond making -- on the femtosecond (10-15 second) time scale. This atomic scale of time resolution has now reached the ultimate for the chemical bond and as Lord George Porter puts it, chemists are near the end of the race against time. These two volumes cover the general concepts, techniques and applications of femtochemistry.Professor Ahmed Zewail, who has made the pioneering contributions in this field, has from over 250 publications selected the articles for this anthology. These volumes begin with a commentary and a historical chronology of the milestones. He then presents a broad perspective of the current state of knowledge in femtochemistry by researchers around the world and discusses possible new directions. In the words of a colleague, "it is a must on the reading-list for all of my students ... all readers will find this to be an informative and valuable overview."The introductory articles in Volume I provide reviews for both the non-experts as well as for experts in the field. This is followed by papers on the basic concepts. For applications, elementary reactions are studied first and then complex reactions. Volume I is complete with studies of solvation dynamics, non-reactive systems, ultrafast electron diffraction and the control of chemical reactions.Volume II continues with reaction rates, the concept of elementary intramolecular vibrational-energy redistribution (IVR) and the phenomena of rotational coherence which has become a powerful tool for the determination of molecular structure via time resolution. The second volume ends with an extensive list of references, according to topics, based on work by Professor Zewail and his group at Caltech.These collected works by Professor Zewail will certainly be indispensable to both experts and beginners in the field. The author is known for his clarity and for his creative and systematic contributions. These volumes will be of interest and should prove useful to chemists, biologists and physicists. As noted by Professor J Manz (Berlin) and Professor A W Castleman, Jr. (Penn State): femtochemistry is yielding exciting new discoveries from analysis to control of chemical reactions, with applications in many domains of chemistry and related fields, e.g., physical, organic and inorganic chemistry, surface science, molecular biology, ... etc.

Femtosecond Laser Spectroscopy

Femtosecond Laser Spectroscopy
Author: Peter Hannaford
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 350
Release: 2005-12-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 038723294X

The embryonic development of femtoscience stems from advances made in the generation of ultrashort laser pulses. Beginning with mode-locking of glass lasers in the 1960s, the development of dye lasers brought the pulse width down from picoseconds to femtoseconds. The breakthrough in solid state laser pulse generation provided the current reliable table-top laser systems capable of average power of about 1 watt, and peak power density of easily watts per square centimeter, with pulse widths in the range of four to eight femtoseconds. Pulses with peak power density reaching watts per square centimeter have been achieved in laboratory settings and, more recently, pulses of sub-femtosecond duration have been successfully generated. As concepts and methodologies have evolved over the past two decades, the realm of ultrafast science has become vast and exciting and has impacted many areas of chemistry, biology and physics, and other fields such as materials science, electrical engineering, and optical communication. In molecular science the explosive growth of this research is for fundamental reasons. In femtochemistry and femtobiology chemical bonds form and break on the femtosecond time scale, and on this scale of time we can freeze the transition states at configurations never before seen. Even for n- reactive physical changes one is observing the most elementary of molecular processes. On a time scale shorter than the vibrational and rotational periods the ensemble behaves coherently as a single-molecule trajectory.

Chemical Reactions and Their Control on the Femtosecond Time Scale

Chemical Reactions and Their Control on the Femtosecond Time Scale
Author: Pierre Gaspard
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 984
Release: 2009-09-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0470142138

Continuing the tradition of the Advances in Chemical Physics series, Volume 101: Chemical Reactions and Their Control on the Femtosecond Time Scale details the extraordinary findings reported at the XXth Solvay Conference on Chemistry, held at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, from November 28 to December 2, 1995. This new volume discusses the remarkable opportunities afforded by the femtosecond laser, focusing on the host of phenomena this laser has made it possible to observe. Examining molecules on the intrinsic time scale of their vibrations as well as their dissociative motions and electronic excitations represents only part of a broadened scientific window made possible by the femtosecond laser. The assembled studies, with follow-up discussions, reflect the many specialties and perspectives of the Conference's 65 participants as well as their optimism concerning the breadth of scientific discovery now open to them. The studies shed light on the laser's enhanced technical reach in the area of coherent control of chemical reactions as well as of more general quantum systems. The theoretical fundamentals of femto-chemistry, the unique behavior of the femtosecond laser, and a view toward future technological applications were also discussed: * Femtochemistry: chemical reaction dynamics and their control * Coherent control with femtosecond laser pulses * Femtosecond chemical dynamics in condensed phases * Control of quantum many-body dynamics * Experimental observation of laser control * Solvent dynamics and RRKM theory of clusters * High-resolution spectroscopy and intramolecular dynamics * Molecular Rydberg states and ZEKE spectroscopy * Transition-state spectroscopy and photodissociation * Quantum and semiclassical theories of chemical reaction rates. A fascinating and informative status report on the cutting-edge chemical research made possible by the femtosecond laser, Chemical Reactions and Their Control on the Femtosecond Time Scale is an indispensable volume for professionals and students alike. The femtosecond laser and chemistry's extraordinary new frontier of molecular motions observed on the scale of a quadrillionth of a second. Research chemists have only tapped the surface of the spectacular reach and precision of the femtosecond laser, a technology that has allowed them to observe the dynamics of molecules on the intrinsic time scale of their vibrations, dissociative motions, and electronic excitations. Volume 101 in the Advances in Chemical Physics series, Chemical Reactions and Their Control on the Femtosecond Time Scale details their extraordinary findings, presented at the XXth Solvay Conference on Chemistry, in Brussels. The studies reflect the work, in part, of the Conference's 65 participants, including many prominent contributors. Together they shed light on the laser's enhanced technical range in the area of coherent control of chemical reactions as well as of more general quantum systems. The theoretical fundamentals of femtochemistry, the unique behavior of the femtosecond laser, and a view toward future technological applications were also discussed. An exceptionally up-to-date examination of the chemical analyses made possible by the femtosecond laser, Chemical Reactions and Their Control on the Femtosecond Time Scale is an important reference for professionals and students interested in enhancing their research capabilities with this remarkable tool. From 1993 to 1996, she worked with Dr. P. Gaspard at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, on the application of new semiclassical techniques to elementary chemical reaction processes.

Femtochemistry: Ultrafast Dynamics Of The Chemical Bond (In 2 Volumes) - Volume 1

Femtochemistry: Ultrafast Dynamics Of The Chemical Bond (In 2 Volumes) - Volume 1
Author: Ahmed H Zewail
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 605
Release: 1994-09-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9814502111

These two volumes on Femtochemistry present a timely contribution to a field central to the understanding of the dynamics of the chemical bond. This century has witnessed great strides in time and space resolutions, down to the atomic scale, providing chemists, biologists and physicists with unprecedented opportunities for seeing microscopic structures and dynamics. Femtochemistry is concerned with the time resolution of the most elementary motions of atoms during chemical change - bond breaking and bond making - on the femtosecond (10-15 second) time scale. This atomic scale of time resolution has now reached the ultimate for the chemical bond and as Lord George Porter puts it, chemists are near the end of the race against time. These two volumes cover the general concepts, techniques and applications of femtochemistry.Professor Ahmed Zewail, who has made the pioneering contributions in this field, has from over 250 publications selected the articles for this anthology. These volumes begin with a commentary and a historical chronology of the milestones. He then presents a broad perspective of the current state of knowledge in femtochemistry by researchers around the world and discusses possible new directions. In the words of a colleague, ';it is a must on the reading-list for all of my students ...; all readers will find this to be an informative and valuable overview.';The introductory articles in Volume I provide reviews for both the non-experts as well as for experts in the field. This is followed by papers on the basic concepts. For applications, elementary reactions are studied first and then complex reactions. Volume I is complete with studies of solvation dynamics, non-reactive systems, ultrafast electron diffraction and the control of chemical reactions.Volume II continues with reaction rates, the concept of elementary intramolecular vibrational-energy redistribution (IVR) and the phenomena of rotational coherence which has become a powerful tool for the determination of molecular structure via time resolution. The second volume ends with an extensive list of references, according to topics, based on work by Professor Zewail and his group at Caltech.These collected works by Professor Zewail will certainly be indispensable to both experts and beginners in the field. The author is known for his clarity and for his creative and systematic contributions. These volumes will be of interest and should prove useful to chemists, biologists and physicists. As noted by Professor J Manz (Berlin) and Professor A W Castleman, Jr. (Penn State): femtochemistry is yielding exciting new discoveries from analysis to control of chemical reactions, with applications in many domains of chemistry and related fields, e.g., physical, organic and inorganic chemistry, surface science, molecular biology, ...; etc.

Beyond the Molecular Frontier

Beyond the Molecular Frontier
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 238
Release: 2003-03-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309168392

Chemistry and chemical engineering have changed significantly in the last decade. They have broadened their scopeâ€"into biology, nanotechnology, materials science, computation, and advanced methods of process systems engineering and controlâ€"so much that the programs in most chemistry and chemical engineering departments now barely resemble the classical notion of chemistry. Beyond the Molecular Frontier brings together research, discovery, and invention across the entire spectrum of the chemical sciencesâ€"from fundamental, molecular-level chemistry to large-scale chemical processing technology. This reflects the way the field has evolved, the synergy at universities between research and education in chemistry and chemical engineering, and the way chemists and chemical engineers work together in industry. The astonishing developments in science and engineering during the 20th century have made it possible to dream of new goals that might previously have been considered unthinkable. This book identifies the key opportunities and challenges for the chemical sciences, from basic research to societal needs and from terrorism defense to environmental protection, and it looks at the ways in which chemists and chemical engineers can work together to contribute to an improved future.

Femtochemistry: Ultrafast Dynamics Of The Chemical Bond (In 2 Volumes) - Volume 2

Femtochemistry: Ultrafast Dynamics Of The Chemical Bond (In 2 Volumes) - Volume 2
Author: Ahmed H Zewail
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 373
Release: 1994-09-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 981450212X

These two volumes on Femtochemistry present a timely contribution to a field central to the understanding of the dynamics of the chemical bond. This century has witnessed great strides in time and space resolutions, down to the atomic scale, providing chemists, biologists and physicists with unprecedented opportunities for seeing microscopic structures and dynamics. Femtochemistry is concerned with the time resolution of the most elementary motions of atoms during chemical change - bond breaking and bond making - on the femtosecond (10-15 second) time scale. This atomic scale of time resolution has now reached the ultimate for the chemical bond and as Lord George Porter puts it, chemists are near the end of the race against time. These two volumes cover the general concepts, techniques and applications of femtochemistry.Professor Ahmed Zewail, who has made the pioneering contributions in this field, has from over 250 publications selected the articles for this anthology. These volumes begin with a commentary and a historical chronology of the milestones. He then presents a broad perspective of the current state of knowledge in femtochemistry by researchers around the world and discusses possible new directions. In the words of a colleague, ';it is a must on the reading-list for all of my students ...; all readers will find this to be an informative and valuable overview.';The introductory articles in Volume I provide reviews for both the non-experts as well as for experts in the field. This is followed by papers on the basic concepts. For applications, elementary reactions are studied first and then complex reactions. Volume I is complete with studies of solvation dynamics, non-reactive systems, ultrafast electron diffraction and the control of chemical reactions.Volume II continues with reaction rates, the concept of elementary intramolecular vibrational-energy redistribution (IVR) and the phenomena of rotational coherence which has become a powerful tool for the determination of molecular structure via time resolution. The second volume ends with an extensive list of references, according to topics, based on work by Professor Zewail and his group at Caltech.These collected works by Professor Zewail will certainly be indispensable to both experts and beginners in the field. The author is known for his clarity and for his creative and systematic contributions. These volumes will be of interest and should prove useful to chemists, biologists and physicists. As noted by Professor J Manz (Berlin) and Professor A W Castleman, Jr. (Penn State): femtochemistry is yielding exciting new discoveries from analysis to control of chemical reactions, with applications in many domains of chemistry and related fields, e.g., physical, organic and inorganic chemistry, surface science, molecular biology, ...; etc.

Femtochemistry and Femtobiology

Femtochemistry and Femtobiology
Author: Abderrazzak Douhal
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 854
Release: 2002
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9810248660

This book contains important contributions from top international scientists on the-state-of-the-art of femtochemistry and femtobiology at the beginning of the new millennium. It consists of reviews and papers on ultrafast dynamics in molecular science.The coverage of topics highlights several important features of molecular science from the viewpoint of structure (space domain) and dynamics (time domain). First of all, the book presents the latest developments, such as experimental techniques for understanding ultrafast processes in gas, condensed and complex systems, including biological molecules, surfaces and nanostructures. At the same time it stresses the different ways to control the rates and pathways of reactive events in chemistry and biology. Particular emphasis is given to biological processes as an area where femtodynamics is becoming very useful for resolving the structural dynamics from techniques such as electron diffraction, and X-ray and IR spectroscopy. Finally, the latest developments in quantum control (in both theory and experiment) and the experimental pulse-shaping techniques are described.

The Chemical Bond

The Chemical Bond
Author: Ahmed Zewail
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 333
Release: 1992-05-14
Genre: Science
ISBN: 008092669X

This inspired book by some of the most influential scientists of our time--including six Nobel laureates--chronicles our emerging understanding of the chemical bond through the last nine decades and into the future. From Pauling's early structural work using x-ray and electron diffraction to Zewail's femtosecond lasers that probe molecular dynamics in real time; from Crick's molecular biology to Rich's molecular recognition, this book explores a rich tradition of scientific heritage and accomplishment. The perspectives given by Pauling, Perutz, Rich, Crick, Porter, Polanyi, Herschbach, Zewail, and Bernstein celebrate major scientific achievements in chemistry and biology with the chemical bond playing a fundamental role. In a unique presentation that also provides some lively insights into the very nature of scientific thought and discovery, The Chemical Bond: Structure and Dynamics will be of general interest to scientists, science historians, and the scientifically inclined populous.

Solvent Effects and Chemical Reactivity

Solvent Effects and Chemical Reactivity
Author: Orlando Tapia
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 396
Release: 2003-07-31
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781402004179

This book presents an up-to-date view of theories, practical methods and applications of solvent effects and chemical reactivity in condensed phases. Subjects treated include continuum solvation models, the theoretical basis for the treatment of solvent effects in density functional theory, Monte Carlo simulations of chemical reactions in solution, DFT molecular dynamics simulations, crossing the transition state in solution, valence bond multi-state approach to chemical reactions in solution, quantum theory of solvent effects and chemical reactions. The approaches taken as well as the resulting findings are discussed in detail, thus covering a large part of the methodology currently used in this field. Audience: This volume will be useful to graduate students in chemistry, physical chemistry and biochemistry, to research workers with a background in quantum chemistry and quantum mechanics, to pure and applied quantum chemists, and to industrial molecular modellers.

Selectivity in Chemical Reactions

Selectivity in Chemical Reactions
Author: J.C. Whitehead
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 562
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 940093047X

The aim of this Workshop on "Selectivity in Chemical Reactions" was to examine the specific preferences exhibited by simple chemical reactions with regards to reagents having particular energy states, symmetries, alignment and orientation and the resulting formation of certain products with their corresponding energies, states, alignment and polarisation. Such problems come close to the ultimate goal of reaction dynamics of being able to determine experimentally and theoretically state-to-state cross sections and stereochemical effects under well defined and characterised conditions. There are many examples of highly selective and specific processes to be found in atmospheric and combustion chemistry and the production of population inversions amongst vibrational and electronic states lies at the heart of the development of chemical laser systems. Only when we can understand the fundamental processes that underlie the selectivity in the formation of products in a chemical reaction and the specific requirements of initial states of the reagents, can we expect to be able to develop the explanatory and predictive tools necessary to apply the subject to the development of new laser systems, efficient combustion schemes and specific methods of chemical synthesis, to the control of atmospheric pollution and to all problems in which it is necessary to direct the outcome of a chemical reaction in a specific way. The brief given to the Workshop was to critically review the field, to discuss the present limitations and difficulties and to identify new directions.