Photodissociation of thymine.
We discuss the photochemistry and photodissociation dynamics of thymine as revealed by two-colour photofragment Doppler spectroscopy and by one-colour slice imaging. Thymine is optically excited into the pipi* state, known to deactivate quickly. The H atom photofragment spectra are dominated by two-photon excitation processes with subsequent statistical dissociation. This can be explained by absorption of a second photon from a long-lived dark state to a highly excited state that quickly deactivates to the electronic ground state. No evidence was found for an important role of the pisigma* excited state identified in adenine and many other heterocyclic molecules.
Schneider
Michael
M
Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, D-97074, Würzburg.
Maksimenka
Raman
R
Buback
F Johannes
FJ
Kitsopoulos
Theofanis
T
Lago
Luis R
LR
Fischer
Ingo
I
D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008027:Light; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013941:Thymine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*
D013941:Thymine