Condensed Matter Seminar Series

Infrared/Terahertz Double Resonance Rotational-Vibrational Molecular Spectroscopy

Henry Everitt

US Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center
and Duke University

Wednesday May 12,  11:00 am,  Room 298,  Physics Building

Abstract:  Molecular rotational spectroscopy in the terahertz spectral region provides an exquisitely sensitive probe of molecular structure.  A brief tutorial on the basics of terahertz molecular spectroscopy will then show how that specificity is lost when the trace analyte is at atmospheric pressure.   I'll then introduce a new "pump-probe" double resonance technique we're developing that will overcome that limitation by exciting the molecular analyte in question into a non-equilibrium that can be remotely detected.