Welcome
Our group research efforts focus on characterizing reactive chemical intermediates, which play an important role in diverse areas of chemistry such as organic synthesis, materials, atmospheric, and interstellar chemistry. We use laser spectroscopy and mass spectrometry to interrogate the structure, dynamics, and reactivity of these transient species. An important aspect of our work is the interplay between experiment and high level ab initio theory.
Current molecules of interest include carbenes and carbocations. For detailed descriptions of ongoing research projects, click on the link below.
Research projects
- The spectroscopy of carbenes: Insights into the singlet-triplet
gap, spin-orbit coupling, and the Renner-Teller effect - The photochemistry of carbenes: mode specific dynamics
- The spectroscopy of carbocations
- Metal containing reactive intermediates
- Pulsed laser ablation and laser deposition
Current group members
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| Chong Tao, Ph. D. (2005) Postdoctoral fellow |
Calvin Mukarakate Graduate Student |
Past group members
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| Haiyan Fan, Ph. D. (2004) Currently postdoctoral fellow Argonne National Laboratory |
Lab pictures
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| Electronics rack | ICCD equipped spectrograph and LIF chamber |
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| Pulsed discharge nozzle and fluorescence collection optics. | The LIF system (with helmholtz coils) |
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| Linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer |
Current collaborators
- Dr. Scott H. Kable (University of Sydney)
- Dr. Timothy W. Schmidt (University of Sydney)
- Dr. William F. Polik (Hope College)
Klingler College of Arts & Sciences
