State-resolved Spectroscopy and Dynamics of Chemical Transients

科罗拉多大学博尔德分校的David Nesbitt得到了化学部化学结构、动力学和机制计划的支持，该计划研究化学瞬变的状态分辨光谱和动力学。这个实验计划的总体目标有三个：i)开发高灵敏度的直接吸收红外激光方法来研究缝隙超音速放电中的喷射冷却自由基和基本分子离子，ii)增加这些光谱工具来研究气体-离子溶液界面上的量子态分辨碰撞，以及iii)利用时间分辨荧光显微镜方法在单分子水平上研究折叠/展开动力学。高活性、非常短的分子物种对于从海洋边界的大气化学到星际介质中的化学等许多过程都是重要的。此外，这个项目还涉及使用单分子光谱学来研究RNA分子的折叠和去折叠的动力学，这对于我们理解许多生物过程是很重要的。一群不同的个人参与了这项研究，其中包括妇女和代表性不足的少数族裔。国际学生联合会也是“CU奇才”科学推广计划的负责人，该计划为中小学生组织实践讲座/示范。

David Nesbitt of the University of Colorado at Boulder is supported by an award from the Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanism program in the Chemistry division to study state-resolved spectroscopy and dynamics of chemical transients. The overall goals of this experimental program are threefold: i) to exploit high sensitivity direct absorption IR laser methods for study of jet-cooled radicals and fundamental molecular ions in slit supersonic discharges, ii) to augment these spectroscopic tools for quantum state-resolved collision studies at gas-ionic solution interfaces, and iii) to utilize time-resolved fluorescence microscopy methods for study of folding/unfolding kinetics at the single molecule level.Highly reactive, very-short lived molecular species are important for many processes, ranging from atmospheric chemistry at the marine boundary to chemistry in the interstellar media. Additionally, this project involves using single molecular spectroscopy to study the kinetics of folding and unfolding of RNA molecules which is important to our understanding of many biological processes. A diverse group of individuals are involved the research including women and underrepresented minorities. The PI is also the Director of the "CU Wizards" Scientific Outreach program which organizes hands-on lecture/demonstrations for elementary and middle school students.