Undergrad Questions about Franck-Condon principle

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SUMMARY

The Franck-Condon principle explains that when a molecule absorbs a photon of sufficient energy, both electronic and vibrational transitions can occur, particularly between states with similar wavefunctions. For example, a transition from the vibrational state ν=0 to ν'=5 requires a photon with energy equal to or greater than the energy difference between these states. Additionally, while a vibrational transition is likely, it is not mandatory for a molecule to transition solely from the ground electronic state to the first excited electronic state without changing vibrational levels. The potential energy diagram indicates that the excited electronic state is represented at a higher energy level than the ground state, with each excited electron contributing to the overall energy level of the molecule.

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  • Understanding of the Franck-Condon principle
  • Familiarity with molecular electronic states and vibrational transitions
  • Knowledge of photon energy and its relation to molecular transitions
  • Basic concepts of potential energy diagrams in molecular physics
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  • Study the mathematical formulation of the Franck-Condon principle
  • Explore vibrational spectroscopy techniques for analyzing molecular transitions
  • Learn about potential energy surfaces and their implications in molecular dynamics
  • Investigate the role of photon energy in electronic transitions in quantum chemistry
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Students and researchers in physical chemistry, molecular physics, and spectroscopy, particularly those interested in understanding molecular transitions and energy states.

Salmone
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I have some questions on Franck Condon principle:

1. The principle states that if a molecule absorbs a photon of the appropriate energy, we could have both electronic and vibrational transitions and that is more likely to have a vibrational transition between states that have two "similar" wavefunctions. The first question is:
It is ok to me that it is more likely to have a vibrational transition between states that have two "similar" wavefunctions but of course if we see a transition between ##\nu=0## state and ##\nu'=5## state means that the absorbed photon had at least the energy separating ##\nu''=0## and ##\nu'=6##, right? With reference to the image, the "blue arrow transition" is more lilely to happen but we need a photon with the right energy, more or equal to the "lenght" of the arrow, right?

2. If the energy of the incoming photon is enough for that transition, is it mandatory for the molecule to also have a vibrational transition or it can jump just from electronic G.S. to electronic first excited state remaining on the same vibrational level?

3. Again with reference to the image, the potential drawn higher refers to an excited electronic state, if we are talking about molecules, what do we precisely mean by that? If just one electron of the electronic clouds is excited by a photon, the new arrangement of the molecule need to be drawn higher than the ground state in which all electrons were in their ground states? And, if two photons are excited, the new potential must be drawn as a different one much higher? Same if three electrons are excited or two electrons are excited to second excited state or third excited state?

800px-Franck_Condon_Diagram.svg.png
 
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Doubts meaning you do not think it works like that or that you don't understand that principle?
 
malawi_glenn said:
Doubts meaning you do not think it works like that or that you don't understand that principle?
I don't understand the points I've written
 
Salmone said:
I don't understand the points I've written
You have questions. You should write questions instead of 'doubts'.
 

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