The next frontier: resolving far-from-equilibrium dynamics by theory and novel experiments

Speaker - Adam Kirrander, University of Oxford

Abstract

Photoexcited dynamics in molecules have great potential for novel chemistry and interesting applications, yet compared to ground-state chemistry our understanding remains limited. Theoretical modelling is made challenging by the exponential scaling of quantum mechanics, while experiments must resolve electron and nuclear motions that occur on femto- or even attosecond timescales and provide signals that yield only a limited view of the complex many-body dynamics. In this talk I will present as a case study the norbornadiene-quadricyclane molecular photoswitch, used for energy harvesting and storage, and discuss the opportunities provided by new light sources such as X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs).