Development of Submillimeter / Terahertz Instrumentation for Spectroscopy and Dynamics

在主要研究仪器（MRI）计划的支持下，John Bevan和德克萨斯州A M大学化学和物理系的同事将开发用于光谱学和动力学的亚毫米波/太赫兹仪器。研究人员最近开发了一个原型频率和相位稳定的返波振荡器为基础的快速扫描亚毫米波光谱仪能够在240至540 GHz的频率范围内工作，亚kHz的精度。 该奖项将使他们能够扩展性能，以覆盖75 GHz至1.25 THz及更高的整个范围。 这些增强的能力和改进的灵敏度将导致一种更通用的仪器，用于各种新的实验研究，包括a）低频分子间动力学研究，包括具有生物学意义的模型系统; B）亚开尔文温度下的分子离子光谱学; c）与大气污染有关的基本反应过程;以及d）在基态和激发电子态中的环分子中的分子动力学的性质。 开发的仪器将加强光谱和动力学研究在化学系和最近成立的中心的大气化学和环境（CACE）在得克萨斯州A M大学。 它将提供给研究生，研究生和本科生以及参与CACE夏季研究计划的学生，旨在增加代表性不足的群体的研究参与。

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.