Femtosecond laser study of energy disposal in the solution phase isomerization of stilbene

Abstract
Femtosecond laser studies of cis-stilbene isomerization show the absorption of the hot trans product decaying in 20 ps. An initial internal temperature of 725±100 K is estimated which decays with a ca. 14 ps time constant. This temperature accounts for less than one-half the photon energy implying significant energy loss by solvent friction.