Transient absorption spectra and kinetics in the 470-650 nm region were recorded for lycopene, P-carotene and zeaxanthin, all carotenoids with 11 conjugated double bonds, in two solvents with different polarity. Analysis of the red wing of the carotenoid SI-S, transition revealed presence of a pronounced shoulder at early delay times. The kinetics recorded at this low-energy shoulder of the SI-S, transition yields an additional decay component of 500-800 fs in addition to the main S, decay. This dynamics is ascribed to a vibrational relaxation in the S, state of the carotenoids. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.