Capturing coherent pseudorotation through conical intersection in photoionized benzene.

ABSTRACT: Vibronic coupling and coherence are crucial in the charge and energy transfer of photoexcited molecules. Here we investigate the coupled electron-nuclear dynamics of the photoionized benzene molecule using the time-resolved Coulomb-explosion imaging method. A long-period oscillation is experimentally observed in the ion yields of the C6H62+ channel, as well as the C⁺ + C⁺, and the C⁺ + C⁺ + C⁺ Coulomb explosion channels. Quantum dynamics simulations reveal that this  ~600 fs oscillation, which notably exceeds the period of any vibrational modes, originates from pseudorotation of the benzene cation. This motion arises from quantum beating between two coherent vibronic states of the benzene molecule coupled via the Jahn-Teller effect aro

SUBMITTER: Liu Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12828027 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature