Relationship between quantum decoherence times and solvation dynamics in condensed phase chemical systems

A relationship between the time scales of quantum coherence loss and short- time solvent response for a solute/bath system is derived for a Gaussian wa ve packet approximation for the bath. Decoherence and solvent response time s are shown to be directly proportional to each other, with the proportiona lity coefficient given by the ratio of the thermal energy fluctuations to t he fluctuations in the system-bath coupling. The relationship allows the pr ediction of decoherence times for condensed phase chemical systems from wel l-developed experimental methods.