The three pillars of photo-initiated quantum molecular dynamics

Abstract

Studies of the interaction of light with matter, based on spectroscopy and diffraction, yielded a microscopic view of nature. The detailed structure of molecules and solids emerged from this effort and led to many of the advances of the 20th century, with the ‘structure-function’ paradigm being perhaps paramount. This static view of Nature is a necessary but insufficient advance and, in the 21st century, we will need to develop microscopic yet dynamical views of Nature. We consider here issues in Photo-initiated Quantum Molecular Dynamics raised by Faraday Discussions 163, in the context of three main categories or ‘pillars’ of light-matter interaction: energy/time, phase/coherence, intensity.