Near-infrared time-resolved study of the S-1 state dynamics of the carotenoid spheroidene
Using a novel experimental approach based on near-infrared femtosecond absorption spectroscopy, we have determined the energy of the S-1 state of the carotenoid spheroidene. The energy of this state is 13 400 +/- 90 cm(-1) at both 293 and 186 K, showing that there is no temperature-induced shift of the S-1 level. A discrepancy of about 800 cm(-1) between the S-1 energy determined here and that obt