LATTICE-DYNAMICS FROM THE EYES OF THE CHROMOPHORE - REAL-TIME STUDIESOF I-2 ISOLATED IN RARE-GAS MATRICES

Molecular iodine isolated in rare gas solids is used as a model system to develop the framework for interpretation of condensed phase pump-p robe observables, specializing in information content regarding multi- body dynamics. The principles are illustrated through a series of exam ples, where, beside the molecular vibronic coherence, the cage motions can be directly dissected. The large variety of behaviors which can b e staged in this system include: elastic cage recoil, highly non-linea r and dissipative cage response, long-lived cage coherence driven thro ugh guest-host resonances, nearly decoupled guest-host dynamics, and c age induced dynamical solvation of electronic surfaces. Although the u nderlying dynamics can be understood in great depth when aided by simu lations, we attempt a clear distinction between direct experimental ob servables and inferences based on simulations.