An academic research program aimed at exploring fundamental properties of important condensed matter systems in new and interesting thermodynamic regimes will be developed and integrated into the educational experiences of both graduate and undergraduate students at the University. Fundamental studies of the equations of state, optical properties, fragilities, and both fast and slow relaxation processes of viscous liquid glass- forming systems; and the optical, mechanical, and dynamic properties of glassy, crystalline, and polymeric materials will be conducted using both high-pressure and powerful optical and light scattering techniques. Students in this program will have an opportunity to conduct high-pressure viscosity experiments by visiting the Exxon Research and Engineering Laboratory under an existing collaboration. Integrally related to this research program will be the development of a unique upper level undergraduate laboratory for the Growth and Characterization of Optical Materials (which is being developed in part under NSF-ILI award number: DUE 9452409). %%% This program will have two integrally related components: (i) the development of an academic research program aimed at exploring fundamental properties of liquids and solids under extremely high pressure, and (ii) the development of a unique upper level undergraduate laboratory for the Growth and Characterization of Optical Materials. A common theme to both components is the use of modern laser and optical techniques. The first component focuses on fundamental studies of viscous liquids and melted polymers and the ways in which they solidify at low temperature or high pressure into either a crystalline material with an ordered arrangement of molecules or a glassy material where the arrangement is random. The s econd component will give undergraduate science and engineering students "hands-on" experiences, using modern equipment, with several aspects of materials research. This laboratory course will focus on important semiconducting and optical materials as educational vehicles for developing skills in growing materials and determining their physical, electrical, and optical properties. Undergraduates will be involved in both components and graduate students will have opportunities to conduct high-pressure viscosity measurements at the Exxon Research and Engineering Laboratory under an existing collaboration. ***
