IR laser induced photo-orientation of Li(H 2O) in solid argon

Abstract

Infrared irradiation into the H 2O symmetric stretching mode of Li(H 2O) isolated in solid argon creates persistent spectral holes in the H 2O stretching and bending regions of the metal—water complex. These spectral holes are thought to arise from photo-orientation of Li(H 2O) inside the matrix cage. An activation barrier of the order of 1 kcal mol −1 is estimated for the reverse spectral hole-filling process. The spectral holes which resulted from polarized IR laser photolysis of 3530.0, 3535.1 and 3537.7 cm −1 were dichroic. Vibrational mode assignment of the perturbed water modes of the complex is made based on direct experimental evidence obtained from the analysis of the dichroic spectra.