Development of Submillimeter / Terahertz Instrumentation for Spectroscopy and Dynamics

在主要研究仪器（MRI）项目的支持下，德州农工大学化学系和物理系的John Bevan及其同事将开发亚毫米/太赫兹光谱和动力学仪器。研究人员最近开发了一种基于频率和相位稳定的后向波振荡器的快速扫描亚毫米光谱仪的原型，能够在240至540 GHz的频率范围内以亚khz的精度工作。该合同将使他们能够将性能扩展到覆盖75 GHz至1.25 THz及以上的整个范围。这些增强的能力和提高的灵敏度将导致更多功能的仪器应用于各种新的实验研究，包括a)低频分子间动力学的研究，包括具有生物学意义的模型系统；b)亚开尔文温度下分子离子光谱；C)与大气污染有关的基本反应过程；d)环分子在基态和激发态的分子动力学性质。开发的仪器将加强化学系和最近在德克萨斯农工大学成立的大气化学与环境中心（CACE）的光谱和动力学研究。它将面向研究生、研究生和本科生，以及参与CACE暑期研究计划的学生，该计划旨在增加代表性不足群体的研究参与。

With support from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, John Bevan and colleagues in the Departments of Chemistry and Physics at Texas A&M University will develop submillimeter/terahertz instrumentation for spectroscopy and dynamics. The investigators have recently developed a prototype frequency and phase stabilized backward-wave oscillator based fast scan submillimeter spectrometer capable of operating over the frequency range 240 to 540 GHz with sub-kHz precision. This award will allow them to extend the performance to cover the entire range of 75 GHz to 1.25 THz and beyond. These enhanced capabilities and improved sensitivity will result in a more versatile instrument for application to a wide variety of new experimental investigations, including a) the study of low frequency intermolecular dynamics including model systems of biological significance; b) spectroscopy of molecular ions at sub-Kelvin temperatures; c) fundamental reaction processes associated with atmospheric pollution; and d) the nature of molecular dynamics in ring molecules both in ground and excited electronic states. The developed instrumentation will enhance spectroscopic and dynamics research in the Chemistry Department and for the recently established Center of Atmospheric Chemistry and the Environment (CACE) at Texas A&M University. It will be available to postgraduate, graduate and undergraduate students as well as students involved in the CACE Summer Research Initiative intended to increase research participation by underrepresented groups.