Universality in the Photophysics of pi-Conjugated Polymers and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

We describe both pi-conjugated polymers and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes because of the remarkable similarities in their behavior under photoexcitation. The common themes between these two seemingly different classes of materials are pi-conjugation, quasi one-dimensionality, and strong Coulomb interactions. Theoretical understanding of both systems requires going beyond traditional band theory. We present our current understanding of the electronic structures and excited state absorptions in both systems within a common theoretical model. Our aim is to give physical interpretations of experiments that have been performed and to give guidance to future experimental work.