Detailed information

Gregory D. Scholes
Princeton University

Abstract

There are a rich variety of ways molecules can interact with each other and their environment, and the span of possible timescales—from femtoseconds to nanoseconds. It is desirable to develop experiments that to reveal another “layer” of information—beyond kinetics—to inform sophisticated theoretical models. I will discuss how observing vibrational wavepackets can serve as a molecular-scale probe to give insight into the reaction coordinate of electron transfer (ET) reactions. Valuable insights into electron trans-fer reactions have been established using Marcus theory. However, a complementary theoretical model explaining how vibrational wavepackets evolve during electron transfer reactions has not yet been established. I will describe a “quantum quench” model to address this gap.  In the second part of the talk I will explain how to invert the paradigm that complexity diminishes quantum coherence, so that robust quantum-like states emerge from extremely large, unordered, complex systems. I will demonstrate a proposition for the structure of those states, showing how classical systems can indeed mimic the superpositions of products that characterize quantum states.

Location

Leuchs-Russell Auditorium, A.1.500, Staudtstr. 2
Location details