We have investigated the nature of primary excitations in alpha-sexithienyl
thin film by comparing excitations above and below the charge transfer exc
iton. We performed femtosecond differential transmission spectroscopy at lo
w temperature. In the probed spectral region from 2 to 2.8 eV, we found a b
leaching of the first excited singlet with a superimposed absorption into h
igher excited gerade states. During the first few picoseconds. the dynamics
of the photoexcitations in the range of the first excited singlet manifold
are independent of the excitation photon energy. When exciting below the o
rigin of the first excited singlet, we observe an optical Stark effect. The
rmal effects dominate the change in transmission for longer delay times for
all excitation energies. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve
d.