Part I Introduction -- Part II Experimental Methods: Experimental Setup -- Fitting of Experimental Data and Cross-Correlation -- Part III Theoretical Methods: Nuclear Dynamics -- Time-Resolved Photoelectron Spectra -- Electronic Structure -- Part IV Results and Discussion: The Cycloketones -- The Cyclopentadienes -- Dithiane -- Part V Concluding Remarks: Summarizing Discussion.

This thesis investigates the transitions from one electronically excited state to another. Such processes - the fastest of events in chemistry - can be studied with femtosecond resolution, and Thomas S. Kuhlman approaches the question both with experimental and theoretical methods. His approach contributes to explain processes of high importance to all scientific fields concerned with the interaction between light and matter: the deactivation of the electronically excited states after excitation. Thomas S. Kuhlman concludes in this thesis that the electronic transition proceeds before the entire set of available degrees of freedom are active - 'It is as simple as that' !