ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on describing and measuring wave function dynamics in one dimension. If the dynamics are fully separable, the one, N-dimensional problem factorizes into N, separate one-dimensional problems. The chapter considers explicit coupling of modes in a system with two degrees of freedom. In larger molecules one cannot handle every degree of freedom explicitly, and it is helpful to consider a specific subset of vibrational modes. In molecules, electronic and nuclear coupling often leads to faster, nonradiative “internal conversion” from one electronic state of the system to another. Of particular interest is how these dynamics allow multidimensional systems to rapidly convert substantial amounts of electronic energy into vibrational energy. The chapter focuses on vibrational dynamics in multiple dimensions and the effect of coupling between modes. Electron dynamics become especially interesting when correlations between electrons play an important role. The chapter also considers the basic timescale associated with correlated electron dynamics.
