Resonance Light Scattering and the Study of Synthetic and Biological Light-Harvesting Systems

这是通过本科院校合作研究计划颁发的奖项，旨在支持斯沃斯莫尔学院罗伯特·F·帕斯捷尔纳克领导的一个研究中心，该中心研究合成和生物光收集系统，重点是共振光散射技术。该中心由化学系特别项目办公室提供支持，由斯沃斯莫尔学院、哈弗福德学院和古彻学院的教职员工和学生共同组成。这项跨学科的研究试图确定聚合生色团的共振光散射所必需的分子参数，并对这一过程进行一般的理论描述。此外，这项研究将开发动态共振光散射技术，以研究生色团聚集体的尺寸和聚集机制，以及时间分辨共振光散射，以探测涉及能量和电子转移的光化学过程。位于斯沃斯莫尔的一个中央设施将配备一台多功能激光光散射设备，能够进行静态和动态光散射实验、角度相关扫描和偏振相关测量。光与合成和生物系统相互作用的中心研究为NSF在光学科学和工程方面的新倡议做出了贡献。除了产生关于采光系统的新知识外，该中心还为来自三所学院的本科生提供跨学科的协作研究体验。该中心是研究与教育相结合的典范。

This is an award through the Collaborative Research in Undergraduate Institutions Program for support of a research center under the leadership of Robert F. Pasternack of Swarthmore College for the study of synthetic and biological light-harvesting systems, with emphasis on the technique of resonance light scattering. Supported through the Special Projects Office of the Division of Chemistry, the center is a collaboration of faculty and students from Swarthmore, Haverford, and Goucher Colleges. The interdisciplinary research seeks to determine the molecular parameters that are necessary for resonance light scattering from aggregrated chromophores and to formulate a general theoretical description of the process. Further, the research will develop techniques of dynamic resonance light scattering to study the dimensions of chromophore aggregrates and the mechanisms of aggregation and of time-resolved resonance light scattering to probe photochemical processes involving energy and electron transfer. A central facility, to be located at Swarthmore, will house a versatile laser light scattering apparatus capable of both static and dynamic light scattering experiments, angle-dependent scans, and polarization-dependent measurements. Center research into the interactions of light with synthetic and biological systems contributes to the new NSF initiative in optical sciences and engineering. In addition to generating new knowledge on light-harvesting systems, the center provides undergraduate students from three colleges with an interdisciplinary, collaborative research experience. The center is a premier example of the integration of research and education.