Learning objectives
Knowledge: the course gives advanced concepts in optical spectroscopy and molecular (multi)photonics, among which deep fundamental insight into energy- and charge-transfer theories, besides an introduction to advanced techniques and applications in nonlinear and time-resolved spectroscopy.
Comprehension ability: the basis knowledge acquired during the precedent years in the fields of molecular spectroscopy and quantum chemistry are consolidated and exploited in order to face more advanced concepts, with an overview on the most interesting and up-to-date applications in the fields of molecular materials and biomolecular chemistry.
Knowledge application: the course gives the means to investigate some fundamental processes of biomolecular chemistry and materials chemistry, such as energy- and charge transfers, together with the description of advanced techniques of multiphotonic optical microscopy. At the end of the course, the student shall be able to plan and perform advanced spectroscopic experiments and have the bases needed for the interpretation of the results and to derive important information on the systems of interest.
Prerequisites
Basis knowledge in quantum-mechanics and molecular spectroscopy.
Course unit content
Excitation energy transfer; Charge transfer; Fluorescence anisotropy; LASER; Nonlinear optics; Optical microscopy; Time-resolved spectroscopy; Optical Bloch equations and photon echo; Two-dimensional IR spectroscopy.
Full programme
REVISION OF SOME BASIC CONCEPTS IN OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY
- Absorption spectra (Franck-Condon factors, transition dipole moment, oscillator strength)
- Luminescence spectra (Jablonski diagrams, Kasha rule, luminescence quantum yield, luminescence lifetimes)
ENERGY TRANSFER
- Förster and Dexter mechanisms
- FRET (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer) applications: macromolecular association and intermolecular distance investigation; protein folding; energy harvesting; sensing
FLUORESCENCE ANISOTROPY
ELECTRON TRANSFER
- Classical transition-state theory
- Marcus model (classical, semiclassical e quantum-mechanical) and applications to molecular systems
- Mulliken-Hush charge-transfer theory
LASERs
NONLINEAR OPTICS
- Nonlinear response theory: n-th order hyperpolarizabilities
- Parametric and non-parametric processes
- The role of symmetry
- Second-order processes: general overview of the processes + detailed treatment of second-harmonic generation and its applications
- Third-order processes: general overview of the processes + detailed treatment of two-photon absorption (TPA) and Raman scattering (and relevant applications)
OPTICAL MICROSCOPY
- Confocal microscopy
- Multiphoton optical imaging
- Super-resolution optical microscopy
TIME-RESOLVED SPECTROSCOPY
- Heller method
- Fluorescence up-conversion
- Pump-probe spectroscopy
OPTICAL BLOCH EQUATIONS AND PHOTON ECHO
TWO-DIMENSIONAL IR SPECTROSCOPY
Bibliography
J. R. Lakowicz, Principles of Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Springer 2006.
V. May, O. Kuhn, Charge and Energy Transfer Dynamics in Molecular Systems, Wiley 2004.
R. W. Boyd, Nonlinear Optics, Academic Press 2008.
Y. R. Shen, The Principles of Nonlinear Optics, Wiley-Interscience 1984.
P. Hamm and M. Zanni, Concepts and Methods of 2D Infrared Spectroscopy, Cambridge University Press 2011.
Teaching methods
Classes + examples though pictures and videos.
Assessment methods and criteria
The acquired knowledge and comprehension ability are verified through an oral exam.
Other information
Besides a wide bibliography, detailed notes on each of the course's subjects are made available to the students.