Ultrafast excited state dynamics of monomeric bacteriochlorophyll a

Ultrafast excited state dynamics of the photosynthetic pigment bacteriochlorophyll a in solution have been investigated by means of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. Photo-induced absorption spectra were observed upon excitation of bacteriochlorophyll a into its Q(y) or Q(x) absorption band. We show an incorporation of the Q(x) state in the ultrafast excited state dynamics of Bchl a in solution based on a comparison of transient absorption, beaching, and stimulated emission kinetics after excitation to the Q(x) or Q(y) band. (C) 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim