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Ultrafast memory loss and energy redistribution in the hydrogen bond network of liquid H2O

Author

Listed:
  • M. L. Cowan

    (University of Toronto)

  • B. D. Bruner

    (University of Toronto)

  • N. Huse

    (Max-Born-Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und Kurzzeitspektroskopie)

  • J. R. Dwyer

    (University of Toronto)

  • B. Chugh

    (University of Toronto)

  • E. T. J. Nibbering

    (Max-Born-Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und Kurzzeitspektroskopie)

  • T. Elsaesser

    (Max-Born-Institut für Nichtlineare Optik und Kurzzeitspektroskopie)

  • R. J. D. Miller

    (University of Toronto)

Abstract

The memory of water Water has many unique features that distinguish it from other liquids. A key to these properties is the dynamic network of hydrogen bonds linking the highly polar water molecules. Infrared spectroscopy of the hydroxyl (OH) stretching vibration is ideal for probing the dynamics and structure of this network, but technical limitations have meant that it has been necessary to use mixtures of isotopically substituted water and observe, for example, the deuteroxyl (OD) bond in normal water (H2O). Now by using an ultrathin sample cell, the behaviour of the hydrogen bond network structure has been studied in pure H2O. The results are surprising: water loses its ‘memory’ of structural correlations within 50 femtoseconds, an order of magnitude faster than seen previously. This favours rapid relaxation of elementary excitations, which may contribute to the stability of biological systems that strongly interact with surrounding water.

Suggested Citation

  • M. L. Cowan & B. D. Bruner & N. Huse & J. R. Dwyer & B. Chugh & E. T. J. Nibbering & T. Elsaesser & R. J. D. Miller, 2005. "Ultrafast memory loss and energy redistribution in the hydrogen bond network of liquid H2O," Nature, Nature, vol. 434(7030), pages 199-202, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:434:y:2005:i:7030:d:10.1038_nature03383
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03383
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    Cited by:

    1. Ulrich Bangert & Frank Stienkemeier & Lukas Bruder, 2022. "High-resolution two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy reveals the homogeneous line profile of chromophores solvated in nanoclusters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Woongmo Sung & Ken-ichi Inoue & Satoshi Nihonyanagi & Tahei Tahara, 2024. "Unified picture of vibrational relaxation of OH stretch at the air/water interface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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