Illustration of the Laser-Driven Response of Trifluoroiodomethane Molecules (IMAGE)

DOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Illustration of the Laser-Driven Response of Trifluoroiodomethane Molecules

Caption

Illustration of the laser-driven response of trifluoroiodomethane molecules (balls and sticks). A laser flash elevates the molecule from a low-energy ground state to an excited state of higher energy (at left). The molecular states are shown as energy landscapes, on which the molecule can follow reaction paths (arrows). At a point where two excited states intersect (conical intersection), the reaction can take two routes: the molecule can either break apart (dissociation) or stay intact and vibrate (vibration).

Credit

Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

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