Laser Theory, Spectroscopy, and Kinetics Equipment for Undergraduate Instruction

激光的应用实际上影响着科学的每一个分支。 在 激光已经彻底改变了高分子化学领域， 解析光谱学和分子反应动力学。 然而，提供实验室指导的机构相对较少 在本科阶段使用激光。 一系列激光 在物理化学课程中， 化学专业的学生 实验 经过精心设计的顺序，教学生 激光操作的基本原理，并将其介绍给 激光在化学中的有用和令人兴奋的应用。 在一个 通过实验，学生对 通过“建造”氦氖激光器， 以及表征所发射的激光束。 在随后的 实验中，学生获得激光诱导荧光（LIF） 用脉冲染料激光器测量碘的光谱。 本实验 向学生介绍可调谐激光器，并演示 当使用激光器时， 谱 在另一个实验中，学生们用同样的 测量电子能量转移的脉冲染料激光系统 从嘧啶到各种缓冲气体的速率。 本实验 生动地展示了激光提供的时间分辨率 动态过程的测量。 该项目的结果 正在传达给普通科学教育机构， 通过在专业会议上的演讲，以及 教学期刊文章 该机构为该项目提供了相当于 NSF基金

Laser applications impact virtually every branch of science. In chemistry, the laser has revolutionized the fields of high resolution spectroscopy and molecular reaction dynamics. However, relatively few institutions offer laboratory instruction using lasers at the undergraduate level. A sequence of laser experiments is being taught in the Physical Chemistry curriculum for chemistry majors at this institution. The experimental sequence has been carefully devised to teach students the underlying principles of laser operation and to introduce them to useful and exciting applications of lasers in chemistry. In one experiment, students develop a basic understanding of the essential components in a laser by "building" a helium-neon laser and characterizing the emitted laser beam. In a subsequent experiment, students obtain a laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectrum of iodine with a pulsed dye laser. This experiment introduces students to a tunable laser and demonstrates the advantage of frequency resolution when using a laser for spectroscopy. In another experiment, students use the same pulsed dye laser system to measure electronic energy transfer rates from pyrimidine to various buffer gases. This experiment vividly demonstrates the temporal resolution afforded by laser measurement of dynamic processes. The results of this project are being communicated to the general scientific educational community through presentations at professional meetings, and in teaching journal articles. The institution contributed to this project in an amount equal to the NSF funds.