Ultrafast Intermolecular Motions in Liquids Using the Optical Kerr Effect

Abstract

In this work we explored ultrafast molecular dynamics of liquids by the example of organic solvents. We used two pump pulses with orthogonal linear polarization for the separate measurement of the interaction induced response in liquids through optically-heterodyne detected optical-Kerr-effect (OHD-OKE). The pulse duration, the delay between pulses and the relation between the pump pulses amplitudes are the key parameters to manipulate inter- and intramolecular responses in OHD-OKE signal.