Third-order nonlinear optical response of energy transfer systems

The third-order nonlinear optical response of energy transfer systems is theoretically investigated. A system composed of two chromophores having the same electronic transition energies is considered. The dynamics of energy transfer between the two chromophores is assumed to occur via a hopping (incoherent) mechanism. We introduce new types of pathways incorporating the hopping processes occurring while the system is in population states and reconstruct a third-order response function which is computationally viable. The nuclear propagators in the electronic population states are written as convolution integrals between those of the nonreactive two-state system weighted by some factors for the energy transfer. The response function is given by multitime correlation functions and these are analyzed by the cumulant expansion method. Based on this approach, the three-pulse photon echo peak shift for several models of energy transfer systems is discussed. It is shown that the rephasing capability of the induced signal is reduced by the memory loss due to resonant energy transfer. A previous model which incorporates resonant energy transfers in an intuitive way is reviewed and modified to supplement the loss of dynamic correlation of nuclear motion within the framework of the theory. The response function obtained by our new approach gives a more accurate description than the existing theory and a comparative discussion is given. The effect of inhomogeneity in rate constants on the third-order signal is discussed and the temperature dependence of the echo signal is examined. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(99)01325-2].