Ultrafast Imaging of Photochemical Dynamics: Faraday Discussion

Photochemical reactions have tremendous scientific importance, ranging from photosynthesis to atmospheric reactions, and technologies such as sensors or displays. Due to the intrinsic complexity of photochemical reactions, they remain the least understood type of chemical process. Nonadiabatic dynamics, ultrafast time-scales, quantum effects and conical intersections are known to be important, but a detailed comprehension remains elusive. However, new experimental techniques capable of monitoring photochemical processes in unprecedented detail are appearing. This includes the development of intense-laser techniques, the construction of free-electron lasers such as the XFEL in Europe and the LCLS in the USA, new sources of pulsed electrons, advanced detection techniques, and important advances in theoretical modelling of quantum dynamics. Many of these techniques are developed by research communities not traditionally concerned with photochemistry, but provide an opportunity to shed new light on photochemical dynamics.

Themes

• Electronic and non-adiabatic dynamics

This session will focus on the important electronic transitions and electronic re-arrangements that accompany photochemical reactions. Techniques used to study these phenomena include photoelectron and high harmonic spectroscopy, as well as a host of other techniques made possible by new table-top XUV and VUV light sources and improved detection techniques.

• Attosecond processes and X-ray spectroscopy

Attosecond processes and X-ray spectroscopies can provide unique fingerprints of photochemical reactions. This session will focus on new techniques made possible by XFEL sources and ultrafast laser developments. It will cover both high energy and high intensity experiments relevant to chemical structure and dynamics, including the theoretical modelling of how these pulses interact with atoms and molecules.

• Structural dynamics

Many photochemical reactions are intrinsically linked to complex structural dynamics triggered by the initial absorption of a photon. This session will focus on new ultrafast diffraction techniques made possible by the new hard x-ray lasers and ultrafast electron sources, as well as complementary structural techniques such as Coulomb explosion imaging.

• Vibrational and condensed phase dynamics

Vibrational dynamics and condensed phase photochemistry have wide-ranging importance and interest. Frequently, the solvent and other environmental effects strongly modify photochemical reaction pathways. This session will focus on vibrational dynamics and photochemistry in small and large molecules in the condensed phase.

Aims

The purpose of this meeting is to gather key participants who represent the full scientific scope of ultrafast imaging and photochemical dynamics. Bringing together different communities of experimentalist and theoreticians working on similar topics but from different perspectives provides an opportunity to ask the fundamental questions and to set the agenda for future research. The meeting will be used to identify how new techniques can complement each other, while addressing specific areas of contention and controversy, and asking; Is the field reaching a point where the fundamental guiding principles of photochemistry can be established?

Format

The Faraday Division have been organising high impact Faraday Discussions in rapidly developing areas of physical chemistry and its interfaces with other scientific disciplines for over 100 years.
Faraday Discussions have a special format where research papers written by the speakers are distributed to all participants before the meeting, and most of the meeting is devoted to discussing the papers. Everyone contributes to the discussion - including presenting their own relevant research.
The research papers and a record of the discussion are published in the journal Faraday Discussions.

The format of the Faraday Discussions meeting is ideal for discussions that transgress the many emerging experimental technologies and theoretical approaches. An auxiliary benefit of the meeting is to bring together established researchers in the field with the new community coming through.

Also of interest

Leading up to the Faraday Discussion, you may also be interested in the 2nd XLIC WG1 meeting – Ultrafast electron dynamics in molecules which will take place in Edinburgh on 28-30 August. 
More information about the event may be found using the link on this page.

The winner of the Student Poster Prize was Joao Pedro Figueira Nunes, University of York

There are a number of Royal Society of Chemistry bursaries available to student and younger members of the Royal Society of Chemistry in the early stages of their career (typically within 5 years of completing a first or postgraduate degree) who do not have support available from their employer or a research grant. 

Applicants should be Royal Society of Chemistry members at the time of application and at the meeting for which the travel bursary is being given.

The bursary is £150 per applicant and funding is supplied by the RSC Travel Grant Scheme.

Deadline for applications: 11 July 2016

Royal Society of Edinburgh

Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PQ, United Kingdom

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Travel by road:
Main roads into Edinburgh are the M8 from the West and the A1 from the South. From the East please follow the A90 and head for Queensferry Road. If you are arriving by car please note that parking near he Royal Society of Edinburgh is limited to meter parking only which can prove costly. The nearest car parks are at the St James centre; Leith Street or Castle Terrace, where there are 24 hour car parks. Please allow 10-15 minutes after parking to get to the venue.

Travel by rail:
Waverley Station is a five minute walk from the Royal Society of Edinburgh with frequent local and national services. For further information on train services please contact National Rail Enquiries.

Travel by air:
Edinburgh airport is approximately 12 kilometres from the city centre and is well served by frequent bus services and airport taxis. Car hire is available at the airport . The airport is a 20-30 minute car drive from the city centre.
There is a tram that runs direct from the airport to the city centre

Travel by bus:
Bus services to and from Edinburgh arrive/depart from St Andrew Square which is a five minute walk away.

​Please note that accommodation is not included in the registration fee. 

Rooms can be booked via a booking agent - Ellis Salsby, please use the link on this page.

Rooms have also been secured at Pollack Halls on the University Campus for 2 nights (31st/1st) at a cost of £160 including breakfast.  This can be booked using the link on this page.  Rooms have to be paid for at the time of booking.  Pollack Halls are a 30 minute walk from the Royal Society of Edinburgh.