Molecular structure and function probed by high-resolution spectroscopy

Understanding, using, and predicting the macroscopic properties of photoresponsive materials employed in technology and nature increasingly centers on the question what their photophysical and photochemical properties are at the molecular level, and how these properties can be addressed and influenced in a controllable way. High-resolution spectroscopy can in principle provide such a detailed picture of the electronic structure and dynamics of excited states, but requires at the same time often the development of novel experimental techniques to meet current demands on the size of the systems that can be studied and the level of detail. Furthermore, a multidisciplinary approach in which quantumchemical calculations play a prominent role is necessary to fully take advantage of the experimental results.