Observation of Picosecond Transient Raman Spectra by Asynchronous Fourier Transform Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract

Asynchronous Fourier transform (FT) Raman spectroscopy with 100 picosecond time resolution has been developed. A signal-processing assembly required for time-resolved and transient Raman measurements consists of a picosecond Nd:YLF laser system, a gate circuit, and a low-pass filter, and it can be attached to any conventional continuous-scan FT-Raman spectrophotometer. The principle of signal processing employed in this method is almost the same as that of asynchronous pulsed-laser-excited FT-Raman spectroscopy. This method does not require synchronization between Raman excitation by probe laser pulses and sampling by the analog-to-digital converter. Transient Raman spectra have been obtained from the first excited singlet state of three anthracene derivatives in cyclohexane solutions and photoexcited poly( p-phenylenevinylene) [(C6H4CH=CH) n] by using 351 nm light (pulse width ã 70 ps) for photoexcitation and 1053 nm light (pulse width ã 100 ps) for Raman excitation.