Abstract
In this paper we discuss the dynamic scattering information which can be obtained from an analysis, at high resolution, of the triplet exciton absorption band in the molecular crystal 4-4′-dichlorobenzophenone. The zero phonon lineshapes, widths and positions are investigated as a function of temperature. At temperatures below 30 K the broadening and the shift are analyzed in terms of exchange theory involving a torsional mode of the molecule. The lifetime in the phonon promoted state is 0.75 ps over the range 5 K-30 K. The difference between the excited and ground state energies of the torsional mode is δω = -8.45 cm−1. Above 30 K the change on linewidth is discussed in a model which implies a momentarily localization of the exciton by lattice phonons. During the localization time a weak coupling between the trapped excitation and phonons is assumed. At very low temperatures the lineshape is asymmetric, gaussian on the high energy side, lorentzian on the low energy side. This experimental result may be due to the fact that the k = 0 level is at the bottom of the exciton band.