Past exam of the condensed matter physics major option course of the University of Oxford / 2019 / 1 / a / i / Solution

Infrared spectroscopy measures absorption as the incident photon frequency is swept through molecular normal mode frequencies. In the electric-dipole approximation the interaction is $-\mathbf{p}\cdot \mathbf{E}$. Expanding the molecular electric dipole moment in a normal coordinate $Q$ givesThe fundamental one-quantum vibrational transition dipole moment is proportional to the derivative multiplying $Q$. Thusis the criterion for vibrational infrared activity; the derivative must also have a component along the incident polarization of an electromagnetic wave. A permanent molecular electric dipole moment is not necessary. Absorption occurs near $\hslash \omega =E_{v+1}-E_v$, with broadened lines reflecting finite lifetimes and the molecular environment.