Photon echo measurements in liquids: Numerical calculations with model systems

Two- and three-pulse photon echo signals are calculated for various model systems. The use of an experimental solvation correlation function as the solvent fluctuation correlation function leads to two conclusions. First, inertial solvent motion plays a major role in the electronic dephasing process. Second, simple models such as Markovian or exponential models for the solvent fluctuation correlation function may not provide an adequate description of the echo signal. The real and imaginary parts of the echo response, which may be measured via heterodyne detected stimulated photon echoes, are compared with conventional photon echo signals.