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.
