Competing ultrafast intersystem crossing and internal conversion in the “channel 3” region of benzene

• DOI: 10.1039/c001671c
• Publication Date: 2010-06-08T14:45:30Z
• Authors: R. S. Minns; D. S. N. Parker; T. J. Penfold; G. A. Worth; H. H. Fielding
• Keywords: Intersystem crossing; Quantum yield

We report new, detailed, femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy experiments and calculations investigating the competition between ultrafast internal conversion intersystem crossing in electronically vibrationally excited benzene at onset of "channel 3". Using different probe energies to record total yield as a function pump-probe delay we are able confirm that S(1), T(1) T(2) electronic states involved state dynamics. Time-resolved measurements then allow us unravel evolution components population and, together with complementary quantum chemistry dynamics calculations, support our earlier proposal competes (Chem. Phys. Lett., 2009, 469, 43).