Excess energy dependence of internal conversion in the S1 state of azulene

Abstract
The internal conversion (IC) rates for nine single vibronic levels of the S1 state of azulene, having from 0 to 2417 cm−1 of vibrational energy, have been measured by direct absorption spectroscopy in a pulsed, planar supersonic jet. The value of kIC at the vibrationless level is 9.4×1011 s−1 , with an approximately linear increase to 3.3×1012 s−1 at the highest level studied. This excess energy dependence of the rate constant is contrasted to that for S2S1 IC across an almost identical electronic energy gap, and an explanation involving low‐frequency modes is offered.