Abstract
Laser induced charge transfer reactions of halogens in rare gas solids and liquids provide a powerful means for the study of condensed phase dynamics. Many-body effects with respect to both electronic and nuclear coordinates, and cooperative interactions with radiation fields, are some of the studied phenomena that are highlighted in this article.The pertinence of these ionic reactions to chemistry in solids is demonstrated in photodissociation studies of molecular halogens in rare gas matrices. The coexistence of both delocalized and localized charge transfer states in solid xenon doped with atomic halogens is presented and dynamical consequences—charge separation, self-trapping and energy storage—are discussed. Static and dynamic solvent effects in liquid phase harpoon reactions are considered. The characterization of cooperative excitations— two-photon, two-electron transitions—in liquid solutions is presented.