Condensed Phase Laser InducedHarpoon Reactions

Laser induced charge transfer reactions of halogens in rare gas solids and liquids providea powerful means for the study of condensed phase dynamics. Many-body effects withrespect to both electronic and nuclear coordinates, and cooperative interactions withradiation fields, are some of the studied phenomena that are highlighted in this article. The pertinence of these ionic reactions to chemistry in solids is demonstrated inphotodissociation studies of molecular halogens in rare gas matrices. The coexistence ofboth delocalized and localized charge transfer states in solid xenon doped with atomichalogens is presented and dynamical consequences—charge separation, self-trappingand energy storage—are discussed. Static and dynamic solvent effects in liquid phaseharpoon reactions are considered. The characterization of cooperative excitations—two-photon, two-electron transitions—in liquid solutions is presented.