title: Novel precursors of solvated electrons in water: evidence for a charge transfer process.
abstract: Femtosecond midinfrared spectroscopy of water (heavy water) after two photon excitation at 9 eV provides clear evidence for two short-lived precursors of the hydrated electron preceding the well-known "wet electron." The measured first intermediate with peak absorption at 2.9 (4.1) microm is proposed to represent an O(H, D):e(-) complex. The subsequent solvation proceeds via e(-):[(H, D)2O](n) complexes at approximately 1.6 (2.0) microm in the electronic ground state, involving an increasing number of water molecules during the first 200 fs and followed by the wet electron.
authors.affiliation: Physik-Department E11, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laenen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laubereau
mesh_terms: D004563:Electrochemistry; D004583:Electrons; D007834:Lasers; D008956:Models, Chemical; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water