Understanding of molecular motions in nonadiabatic photoisomerization dynamics of cis-stilbene with on-the-fly simulation of transient absorption pump–probe spectra

J Juanjuan Zhang H Hangxu Liu (MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Theoretical Chemistry, Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, School of Environment, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,) C Congru Lin (MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Theoretical Chemistry, Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, School of Environment, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,) C Chao Xu F Fenglong Gu (MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Theoretical Chemistry, Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, School of Environment, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,) M Maxim F. Gelin (School of Science, Hangzhou Dianzi University 1 , Hangzhou 310018,) Z Zhenggang Lan (MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Theoretical Chemistry, SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, School of Environment, South China Normal University 3 , Guangzhou 510006,)

Abstract

Theoretical simulations of time-resolved transient absorption spectra, combining on-the-fly trajectory surface hopping with doorway–window formalism, provide a powerful approach to unravel the nonadiabatic dynamics of cis-stilbene. The results show that the key molecular motions driving photoisomerization are captured by the evolution of spectral components, including ground-state bleach, stimulated emission, and excited-state absorption. By establishing a critical link between nuclear dynamics and time-resolved spectral responses, this work demonstrates the essential role of theoretical spectroscopy in decoding ultrafast photochemical processes and offers a predictive framework for mapping molecular dynamics from spectral signatures.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 163, Issue 24
Published December 28, 2025
ISSN 0021-9606
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

The Journal of Chemical Physics

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0021-9606 Physical Sciences

Authors (7)

J

Juanjuan Zhang

H

Hangxu Liu

MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Theoretical Chemistry, Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, School of Environment, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,

C

Congru Lin

MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Theoretical Chemistry, Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, School of Environment, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,

C

Chao Xu

F

Fenglong Gu

MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Theoretical Chemistry, Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, School of Environment, South China Normal University 1 , Guangzhou 510006,

M

Maxim F. Gelin

School of Science, Hangzhou Dianzi University 1 , Hangzhou 310018,

Z

Zhenggang Lan

MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Theoretical Chemistry, SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety, School of Environment, South China Normal University 3 , Guangzhou 510006,