title: Ultrafast structural dynamics of water induced by dissipation of vibrational energy.
abstract: In the liquid phase, water molecules form a disordered fluctuating network of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Using both inter- and intramolecular vibrations as structural probes in ultrafast infrared spectroscopy, we demonstrate a two-stage structural response of this network to energy disposal: vibrational energy from individually excited water molecules is transferred to intermolecular modes, resulting in a sub-100 fs nuclear rearrangement that leaves the local hydrogen bonds weakened but unbroken. Subsequent energy delocalization over many molecules occurs on an approximately 1 ps time scale and is connected with the breaking of hydrogen bonds, resulting in a macroscopically heated liquid.
authors.affiliation: Max Born Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und Kurzzeitspektroskopie, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashihara
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Huse
authors.forename: Agathe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Espagne
authors.forename: Erik T J
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Nibbering
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Elsaesser