Modeling Nonperturbative Field-Driven Vibronic Dynamics: Selective State Preparation and Nonlinear Spectroscopy

J Chem Theory Comput. 2021 Jan 12;17(1):29-39. doi: 10.1021/acs.jctc.0c01035. Epub 2020 Dec 28.

Abstract

The partially linearized density matrix formalism for nonadiabatic dynamics is adapted to incorporate a classical external electromagentic field into the system Hamiltonian. This advancement encompasses the possibility of describing field-driven dynamics and computing a variety of linear and nonlinear spectroscopic signals beyond the perturbative limit. The capabilities of the developed approach are demonstrated on a simple two-state vibronic model coupled to a bath, for which we (a) perform an exhaustive search in the field parameter space for optimal state preparation and (b) compute time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy to monitor the effect of different pulse shapes on measurable experimental signals. While no restrictions on the form of the field have to be assumed, we focus here on Gaussian shaped (linearly) chirped pulses.