excited state dynamics

Excited state dynamics describe how molecules behave after they absorb energy, such as light. When a molecule absorbs a photon, it moves to a higher energy level, called an excited state. It doesn’t stay there long; it undergoes various processes like releasing energy as light (fluorescence), transferring energy to other molecules, or changing shape (non-radiative relaxation). These processes determine how molecules emit light, react chemically, or convert energy, and they happen on timescales from femtoseconds to nanoseconds. Understanding these dynamics helps us improve technologies like solar cells, lasers, and biological imaging.