Organic materials with conjugated p-electrons have much interests because they are model compounds of low-dimensional systems. Moreover, they make higher order structures. For example, LH2 complex in bacterial photosynthesis (Left Figure) has a beautiful ring structure. A carbon nanotube can encapsulate other molecules (Center Figure). We are investigating ultrafast dynamics in the complex systems to find new optical functions.
We are developing
femtosecond
spectroscopies to measure ultrafast phenomena in the conjugated
p-electron systems. Using
tunable multi pulses, a proper state in the material can be selectively excited
by linear and nonlinear photoexcitation. The dynamics following the excitation
are measured using femtosecond absorption, fluorescence, and Raman
spectroscopies.
Left: Pigment-protein complex of photosynthesis, Center: Carbon nanotube
encapsulating molecule, Right: Equipment of laser spectroscopy