Pt. I. Fundamental aspects and electronic structure. 1. Conical intersections in organic photochemistry / M.A. Robb. 2. Efficient excited-state deactivation in organic chromophores and biologically relevant molecules: role of electron and proton transfer processes / A.L. Sobolewski and W. Domcke. 3. Three-state conical intersections / S. Matsika. 4. Spin-orbit vibronic coupling in Jahn-Teller systems / L.V. Poluyanov and W. Domcke. 5. Symmetry analysis of geometric-phase effects in quantum dynamics / S.C. Althorpe -- pt. II. Dynamics at conical intersections. 6. Conical intersections in electron photodetachment spectroscopy: theory and applications / M.S. Schuurman and D.R. Yarkony. 7. Multistate vibronic dynamics and multiple conical intersections / S. Faraji, S. Gomez-Carrasco and H. Koppel. 8. Conical intersections coupled to an environment / I. Burghardt [und weitere]. 9. Ab initio multiple spawning: first principles dynamics around conical intersections / S. Yang and T.J. Martinez. 10. Non-Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics for conical intersections, avoided crossings, and weak interactions / A.W. Jasper and D.G. Truhlar. 11. Computational and methodological elements for nonadiabatic trajectory dynamics simulations of molecules / M. Barbatti, R. Shepard and H. Lischka. 12. Nonadiabatic trajectory calculations with ab initio and semiempirical methods / E. Fabiano [und weitere]. 13. Multistate nonadiabatic dynamics "on the fly" in complex systems and its control by laser fields / R. Mitric, J. Petersen and V. Bonacic-Koutecky. 14. Laser control of ultrafast dynamics at conical intersections / Y. Ohtsuki and W. Domcke -- pt. III. Experimental detection of dynamics at conical intersections. 15. Exploring nuclear motion through conical intersections in the UV photodissociation of azoles, phenols and related systems / T.A.A. Oliver [und weitere]. 16. Interrogation of nonadiabatic molecular dynamics via time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy / M.S. Schuurman and A. Stolow. 17. Pump-probe spectroscopy of ultrafast vibronic dynamics in organic chromophores / N.K. Schwalb [und weitere]. 18. Femtosecond pump-probe polarization spectroscopy of vibronic dynamics at conical intersections and funnels / W.K. Peters, E.R. Smith and D.M. Jonas

The concept of adiabatic electronic potential-energy surfaces, defined by the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, is fundamental to our thinking about chemical processes. Recent computational as well as experimental studies have produced ample evidence that the so-called conical intersections of electronic energy surfaces, predicted by von Neumann and Wigner in 1929, are the rule rather than the exception in polyatomic molecules. It is nowadays increasingly recognized that conical intersections play a key mechanistic role in chemical reaction dynamics. This volume provides an up-to-date overview of the multi-faceted research on the role of conical intersections in photochemistry and photobiology, including basic theoretical concepts, novel computational strategies as well as innovative experiments. The contents and discussions will be of value to advanced students and researchers in photochemistry, molecular spectroscopy and related areas.

It is widely recognized nowadays that conical intersections ofmolecular potential-energy surfaces play a key mechanistic role in thespectroscopy of polyatomic molecules, photochemistry and chemicalkinetics. This invaluable book presents a systematic exposition of thecurrent state of knowledge about conical intersections, which has beenelaborated in research papers scattered throughout the chemicalphysics literature.

The series Topics in Current Chemistry presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in modern chemical research. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience. Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Readership: research chemists at universities or in industry, graduate students

While several reviews and books on surface nanophotonics and fluorescence spectroscopy are available, an updated focus on molecular plasmonics, including both theoretical methods and experimental aspects, is still lacking. This handbook is a comprehensive overview on the physics of the plasmon–emitter interaction, ranging from electromagnetism to quantum mechanics, from metal-enhanced fluorescence to surface-enhanced Raman scattering, from optical microscopy to synthesis of metal nanoparticles, filling the gap in the literature of this merging field. It allows experimentalists to have a solid theoretical reference at a different level of accuracy, and theoreticians to find new stimuli for novel computational methods and emerging applications.

This book focuses on current applications of molecular quantum dynamics. Examples from all main subjects in the field, presented by the internationally renowned experts, illustrate the importance of the domain. Recent success in helping to understand experimental observations in fields like heterogeneous catalysis, photochemistry, reactive scattering, optical spectroscopy, or femto- and attosecond chemistry and spectroscopy underline that nuclear quantum mechanical effects affect many areas of chemical and physical research. In contrast to standard quantum chemistry calculations, where the nuclei are treated classically, molecular quantum dynamics can cover quantum mechanical effects in their motion. Many examples, ranging from fundamental to applied problems, are known today that are impacted by nuclear quantum mechanical effects, including phenomena like tunneling, zero point energy effects, or non-adiabatic transitions. Being important to correctly understand many observations in chemical, organic and biological systems, or for the understanding of molecular spectroscopy, the range of applications covered in this book comprises broad areas of science: from astrophysics and the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere, over elementary processes in chemistry, to biological processes (such as the first steps of photosynthesis or vision). Nevertheless, many researchers refrain from entering this domain. The book "Molecular Quantum Dynamics" offers them an accessible introduction. Although the calculation of large systems still presents a challenge - despite the considerable power of modern computers - new strategies have been developed to extend the studies to systems of increasing size. Such strategies are presented after a brief overview of the historical background. Strong emphasis is put on an educational presentation of the fundamental concepts, so that the reader can inform himself about the most important concepts, like eigenstates, wave packets, quantum mechanical resonances, entanglement, etc. The chosen examples highlight that high-level experiments and theory need to work closely together. This book thus is a must-read both for researchers working experimentally or theoretically in the concerned fields, and generally for anyone interested in the exciting world of molecular quantum dynamics.

This book explains the usage and application of Molecular Quantum Dynamics, the methodology where both the electrons and the nuclei in a molecule are treated with quantum mechanical calculations. This volume of Lecture Notes in Chemistry addresses graduate students and postdocs in the field of theoretical chemistry, as well as postgraduate students, researchers and teachers from neighboring fields, such as quantum physics, biochemistry, biophysics, or anyone else who is interested in this rising method in theoretical chemistry, and who wants to gain experience in the opportunities it can offer. It can also be useful for teachers interested in illustrative examples of time-dependent quantum mechanics as animations of realistic wave packets have been designed to assist in visualization. Assuming a basic knowledge about quantum mechanics, the authors link their explanations to recent experimental investigations where Molecular Quantum Dynamics proved successful and necessary for the understanding of the experimental results. Examples including reactive scattering, photochemistry, tunneling, femto- and attosecond chemistry and spectroscopy, cold chemistry or crossed-beam experiments illustrate the power of the method. The book restricts complicated formalism to the necessary and in a self-contained and clearly explained way, offering the reader an introduction to, and instructions for, practical exercises. Continuative explanation and math are optionally supplemented for the interested reader. The reader learns how to apply example simulations with the MCTDH program package (Multi Configuration Time Dependent Hartree calculations). Readers can thus obtain the tools to run their own simulations and apply them to their problems. Selected scripts and program code from the examples are made available as supplementary material. This book bridges the gap between the existing textbooks on fundamental theoretical chemistry and research monographs focusing on sophisticated applications. It is a must-read for everyone who wants to gain a sound understanding of Molecular Quantum Dynamics simulations and to obtain basic experience in running their own simulations.