Laser facility for ultra-sensitive molecular characterisation

激光是分子系统表征和光化学修饰不可或缺的工具。强大的激光产生强烈的光脉冲，从红外线到紫外线，跨越电磁光谱。这种多功能性使化学家能够在超快时间尺度上观察单分子的动力学行为，探测与治疗药物作用相关的分子形状，探索空间中发现的分子特征，并在微观尺度上启动激光激活的化学过程以修改传感器表面。拟议中的激光设施将使这些领域取得进展，并将有助于保持澳大利亚在纳米技术和生物技术方面的研究优势。

Lasers are indispensable tools for the characterization and photochemical modification of molecular systems. Powerful lasers produce intense bursts of light across the electromagnetic spectrum, from the infrared to the ultraviolet. This versatility allows chemists to observe the dynamical behaviour of single molecules on ultra-fast timescales, to probe the shape of molecules relevant to the action of therapeutic drugs, to explore the characteristics of molecules found in space, and to initiate laser-activated chemical processes in microscopic dimensions to modify sensor surfaces. The proposed laser facility will enable progress in these areas and will help maintain Australia's research edge in nanotechnology and biotechnology.