November Historical Events in Spectroscopy by Leopold May, Catholic University
December
Historical Events in Spectroscopy by Leopold May, Catholic University
Speaker: Dr. Edgar Etz, Analytical Microscopy Research Group, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Location: Ristorante Tartufo, 9021 Gaither Road (at the intersection of Shady Grove Road and Gaither Road), Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Highlights from the November SAS Meeting
Dr. Suenram gave a fascinating talk describing the evolution of FTMW spectroscopy and detailing many recent applications, including the characterization of chemical warefare agents. Below are a few photographs from the meeting.
November Meeting Notice - Thursday, November 4, 1999 (Downloadable meeting notice PDF here)
Fourier Transform Microwave Spectroscopy: Historical Perspectives and the Evolution Toward an Analytical Technique.
In 1981 the late Willis H. Flygare and his group of graduate students and post doctoral associates developed a new microwave spectroscopic technique that revitalized the field of rotational spectroscopy. The new technique involved the used of a tunable Fabry-Perot microwave cavity in conjunction with a pulsed molecular beam valve and pulsed microwave radiation. The technique has evolved into what is now known as Fourier Transform Microwave (FTMW) spectroscopy. As it was initially introduced, it proved to be a powerful technique for studying the rotational spectra of hydrogen bonded dimers and van der Waals complexes. This trend continued throughout the 1980's as more and more research laboratories around the world constructed this type of instrument. It is estimated that today there are approximately 30 laboratories that have one or more of these instruments in use. The first NIST instrument was constructed in 1985 and was used to study a number of van der Waals complexes as well as hydrogen bonded dimers and trimers. More recently the emphasis at NIST has shifted toward the analysis and characterization of larger organic monomers with molecular weights in the 100 to 200 amu range. The 1K temperature of the molecular beam greatly simplifies the spectra of these compounds and permits their analysis. Over time, many changes have been made in the instrument resulting in dramatic improvements in overall sensitivity of the technique as well as greatly improved ease of use. In the early 1990's it became clear that this technique could offer some advantages to the analytical chemistry community as a new spectroscopic technique for trace gas analysis. Several laboratories have begun to address this issue. In the presentation, general historical perspectives will be given, in addition to describing details of the development of an analytical prototype FTMW spectrometer at NIST.
Dr.
Richard Suenram is the Group Leader of the Spectroscopic
Applications Group, Optical Technology Division, Physics Laboratory at NIST
where he has worked since 1975. He has received the Bronze Medal Award from
the US Department of Commerce for his contributions to the spectroscopic sciences.
Prior to joining NIST, Dr. Suenram was employed in industry by Rohm and Haas.
He has a Ph.D. and MS in Physical Chemistry, from the University of Kansas (Lawrence)
and the University of Wisconsin (Madison), respectively. His research interests
are in the areas of hydrogen-bonded and van der Waals complexes, atmospheric
molecules, reaction mechanisms, and conformational equilibria of large organic
compounds using Fourier Transform microwave (FTMW) spectroscopic techniques.
He has also extensively used FTMW spectroscopy for trace gas analysis. Currently,
Dr. Suenram is developing new terahertz instrumentation and methods for studying
ro-vibrational spectra of molecules in this region.
Your Baltimore-Washington Section Officers for 1999-2000:
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