Molecular polarizability anisotropy of liquid water revealed by terahertz-induced transient orientation

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04481-5
• Publication Date: 2018-05-24T16:30:17Z
• Authors: Peter Zalden; Liwei Song; Xiaojun Wu; Haoyu Huang; Frederike Ahr; Oliver D. Mücke; Joscha Reichert; Michael Thorwart; Pankaj Kr. Mishra; Ralph Welsch; Robin Santra; Franz X. Kärtner; Christian Bressler
• Keywords: Science; Q; 500; Article; info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/500

Reaction pathways of biochemical processes are influenced by the dissipative electrostatic interaction reagents with solvent water molecules. The simulation these interactions requires a parametrization permanent and induced dipole moments. However, underlying molecular polarizability its dependence on ions partially unknown. Here, we apply intense terahertz pulses to liquid water, whose oscillations match timescale orientational relaxation. Using combination pump / optical probe experiments, dynamics simulations, Langevin model, demonstrate transient orientation their moments, not possible excitation. resulting birefringence reveals that is lower along moment than average value perpendicular it. This anisotropy, also observed in heavy alcohols, increases concentration sodium iodide dissolved water. Our results enable more accurate benchmarking existing future models.