Vibrational cooling (and heating) of large molecules in solids

Large molecules embedded in a solid matrix exchange mechanical energy with their surroundings on the ultrafast time scale. Energy transfer from vibrationally "hot" molecules to the matrix is called vibrational cooling, while energy transfer from a "hot" matrix to the molecule is called multiphonon up pumping. Ultrafast spectroscopy and computer simulations are used to investigate these processes, and some "real world" examples involving laser ablation, energetic solids, and hemerproteins are discussed.