Understanding many-body dynamics on a molecular level is a major aim in condensed phase photodynamical research. Much can be learned about this general field through studies of molecular photodissociation in model systems, namely crystalline rare gas solids. The aim of this presentation is to illustrate this proposition by highlights drawn from a variety of related investigations. Under the title of photodissociation in solids, several related processes can be categorized: charge transfer induced dissociation, radiative dissociation, atomic photomobility, are examples. The experimental paradigm in its simplest form would consist of: isolating a diatomic molecule in an ordered host of known structure, optically inducing a bound- to-free electronic transition, and following the subsequent dynamics of all atoms, on all relevant time scales. Iteration of this experiment in the laboratory and on computer, through molecular dynamics simulations is used to converge to a first principles understanding of the many-body interactions.
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