Role of electron in intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution: a simulation of time- and frequency-resolved CARS spectrum

A coupled oscillator model with special attention to the electron is employed to simulate the time- and frequency-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (TFR-CARS) spectrum of benzene, where the electronic contribution is introduced as an oscillator as well as molecular vibration, and both the coupling between molecular vibrations and the coupling between electron and molecular vibration are involved. Through the simulation, the intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) process is confirmed to occur more readily between the molecular vibrations with the same vibrational symmetry. Moreover, it is found that the electron plays a mediator role in the IVR process, and the coupling between electron and molecular vibration significantly increases the intramolecular vibrational energy transfer efficiency.