Picosecond temperature and pressure changes in H-bonded systems

A sensitive picosecond thermometer and manometer for hydrogen-bonded systems is demonstrated. The technique is applied for temperature jumps in ice by the help of subpicosecond pulses in the mid-infrared. The hydroxilic stretching vibrations (OH or OD) are applied for energy deposition and for the fast and sensitive spectral probing of local temperature and structure. The method is verified for isotopically mixed ice 1, at 200 K and ambient pressure, where the local thermodynamic quasi-equilibrium builds up within 25 ps. The technique is also suitable for measurements close to the melting point, where superheating of ice can be investigated.