Introduction of Laser Experiments to the Physical Chemistry Laboratory

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The institution incorporated several laser experiments into its physical chemistry laboratory. A continuous wave Helium-Cadmium laser and a small double monochromator are used to construct a low-resolution Raman spectrometer which also functions as a fluorimeter. Both forms of the instrument use a versatile computer interface to allow control of scanning, the acquisition and manipulation of data, and the subsequent plotting of results. The department also acquired a low-cost pulsed nitrogen/dye laser and associated electronic for use in short time-scale (10-100ns) measurements of luminescent lifetimes. These measurement are used to analyze the collision-induced energy transfer between excited metal complexes and organic quenchers. The laser-based experiments not only expose majors to modern optics and computer- based data acquisition techniques, but also emphasize a flexible, building-block (as opposed to "black-box") approach to experimental design and computer software. This project emphasizes a low-cost approach toward the introduction of current spectroscopic techniques to undergraduate laboratories. Implementation of the experiments should be of interest to other institutions seeking to sustain student interest in physical chemistry The institution contributed to this project in an amount equal to the NSF funds.