Ultrafast Molecular Sciences

超快分子科学是基于超短激光光谱仪，它对分子中的电子电荷重排很敏感。目标是了解光合作用、视觉和太阳能转换等全球重要过程所依据的基本电子运动。由申请人首创的时间分辨光电子能谱(TRPES)是研究这种动力学的一种特别强大的探测器。这一提议的一个重要新方面是时间分辨X射线吸收光谱(TRXAS)，这是一种新兴的超快电子运动的原子特有的新探测器。一个新的超快X射线科学实验室，拥有加拿大最高的平均功率超短脉冲激光，将产生这种方法所需的稳定、明亮的软X射线脉冲。这两种超快光谱技术在同一实验室中的结合将促进我们对电荷转移的基本理解，并导致基于动力学的全新太阳能转换设计原则。我们的超快激光专业技术的第二个成果是多模受激拉曼显微镜。这种特定于化学物质的成像方法不需要染色，而是根据分子的自然结构对其进行标记。虽然主要用于生物光子学和医学，但我们将把增强型受激拉曼显微镜应用于“地球光子学”，特别是在矿物学中，实时化学特定成像将导致加拿大更绿色、更高效的矿石加工。培训下一代科学家是这项提议的另一个关键方面。超快分子科学培训通过让女性和代表性不足的成员在实验规划、圆桌讨论领导和资源分配中发挥关键作用，促进包容性领导。通过在激光和真空技术、高速电子学和显微镜/成像方面的有效沟通培训和高水平技术培训机会，未被充分代表的受训人员将直接了解到，优秀的研究成果是因其优点而得到认可，而不是基于积极或无意识的偏见。与学术、私营和公共部门合作伙伴的持续合作进一步为学员在加拿大获得出色的就业机会做好准备。申请者是公认的超快光谱学世界领先者。他的研究贡献得到了美国物理学会2017年度《厄尔·K·普莱勒分子光谱与动力学奖》和加拿大化学学会2018年度《约翰·C·波兰尼奖》的认可。2017年，他被任命为Max-Planck-u渥太华极端和量子光子学中心研究员，2019年被任命为NRC-u渥太华极端光子学联合中心研究员。2020-21年度，他当选为美国物理学会化学物理分会主席。2021年，他被续任为渥太华大学分子光子学加拿大一级研究教授。

Ultrafast Molecular Sciences is based on ultrashort laser spectroscopies which are sensitive to electronic charge rearrangements in molecules. The goal is to understand the fundamental electronic motions which underlie globally important processes such as photosynthesis, vision and solar energy conversion. Time-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy (TRPES), pioneered by the applicant, is an especially powerful probe of such dynamics. An important new aspect of this proposal is Time-Resolved X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (TRXAS), an emerging new probe of ultrafast electronic motions which is atom-specific. A new Laboratory for Ultrafast X-ray Sciences, housing the highest average power ultrashort pulse laser in Canada, will produce the stable, bright soft X-ray pulses required for this method. The combination of these two ultrafast spectroscopy techniques within the same lab will advance our fundamental understanding of charge transfer and lead to entirely new design principles, based on dynamics, for solar energy conversion. A secondary outcome of our ultrafast laser expertise is Multimodal Stimulated Raman Microscopy. This chemical-specific imaging method requires no stains, but rather 'labels' molecules according to their natural structure. Although mostly used in Biophotonics and Medicine, we will apply enhanced Stimulated Raman Microscopy to "Geophotonics", specifically to mineralogy where real-time chemical-specific imaging will lead to greener, more efficient ore processing in Canada. The training of the next generation of scientists is another key aspect of this proposal. Ultrafast Molecular Sciences training promotes inclusive leadership by giving key roles to female and underrepresented members in the planning of experiments, in leadership of Roundtable discussions, and in resource allocation. With training in effective communication and high level technical training opportunities in laser and vacuum technologies, high speed electronics and microscopy/imaging, underrepresented trainees will learn firsthand that research excellence is recognized for its merit and not on the basis of active or unconscious biases. Ongoing collaborations with academic, private and public sector partners further prepare trainees for outstanding job opportunities in Canada. The applicant is an acknowledged world leader in ultrafast spectroscopy. His research contributions were recognized by the 2017 "Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy & Dynamics" of the American Physical Society, and the 2018 "John C. Polanyi Award" of the Canadian Society for Chemistry. In 2017, he was appointed Fellow of the Max-Planck-uOttawa Centre for Extreme and Quantum Photonics and, in 2019, Fellow of the NRC-uOttawa Joint Centre for Extreme Photonics. In 2020-21, he was elected Chair of the Division of Chemical Physics of the American Physical Society. In 2021, he was renewed as Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Molecular Photonics at the University of Ottawa.