Photochemical elementary reactions in biologically relevant systems
Kyriaki Kosma, Hans-Herrmann Ritze, Yuliya Rulyk,
Christian Schröter, Thomas Schultz

The goal of the project is to understand photochemical processes in complex biological systems such as DNA. Using a reductionist approach, we investigate isolated chromophores to identify inherent photochemical processes and increasingly large clusters (i.e. base pairs and water clusters) to elucidate the effect of a intermolecular interactions.

Finite systems in moderately strong laser fields: Analysis and control
Christian Neidel, Ihar Shchatsinin, Pushkar Singh,
Nickolai Zhavoronkov, Claus Peter Schulz
(in collaboration with Tim Laarmann, HASYLAB at DESY)

The interaction of ultra-short laser pulses with large, finite molecular systems is investigated to gain a better understanding of the complex mechanisms of energy deposition and migration in such systems. Pump-pulse schemes and shaped femtosecond pulses are used to analyse and control the induced nonadiabatic electron dynamics and nuclear motion.

Metal doped water clusters
Hongtao Liu, Jan Philippe Müller, Claus Peter Schulz

Photoinduced dynamics of electronically excited states in sodium dopes water clusters is investigated by pump-probe spectroscopy with femtosecond laser pulses. This research aims toward a detailed understanding of the formation and the dynamics of the solvated electron.

Electronic structure of aqueous solutions
Andrea Lübcke, Bernd Winter (until 2008), Thomas Schultz

Photoionization and photodetachment from aqueous solutions provides insight on the electronic structure of solvent and solutes. To investigate photophysical and photochemical processes, we photoexcite solutes by ultraviolet or visible fs laser pulses and probe the evolving system by time-delayed photoionization of valence electrons.

Photodynamics in doped Helium nanodroplets
Claus Peter Schulz (in collaboration with Prof. F. Stienkemeier, University Freiburg)