Optical Probes of Crystal Growth Mechanisms

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With this Accomplishment Based Renewal award the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program continues its support for the work of Dr. Bart E. Kahr in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Washington in Seattle. The research involves the study of the intermolecular interactions which take place during crystal growth, and will use a variety of light measurements, including absorbance, luminescence, linear dichroism, linear birefringence, and circular birefringence (optical rotation). The influences of crystals on light will be used to image actively growing crystal surfaces and measure effective electrical charges. Eventually it may be possible to provide a catalog of luminescent molecules for identifying particular crystal growth processes. Combining effects from various optical methods, including optical rotation imaging, will make it possible to learn much about these changing heterogeneous samples. Eventually it may be possible to design mixed crystals with prescribed optical properties, and to understand the role of mixed-crystal growth in the success of matrix assisted laser desorption ionization in mass spectroscopy.