This is very important in understanding solution chemistry and the properties of materials such as solvation in supercritical fluids and the properties of complex polymer systems. Understanding supercritical fluids has important technological ramifications. We are using ultrafast infrared pulses to study vibrational dynamics in proteins, liquids, and glasses. We are performing the world's first vibrational echo experiments on these systems. They are revealing the nature of vibrational dynamics in condensed matter, and the relation between structure and dynamics.
Electron transfer is one of the most basic chemical processes.
We are using a combination of ultrafast laser methods and other techniques to study fundamental processes. We are investigating polymers, polymer micelles, liquid crystals and micelles using ultrafast to very slow non-linear optical experiments to understand the relationship between dynamics and structure in these complex molecular systems. By using advanced experimental methods based on ultrafast laser technology and theory, we are developing a detailed picture of chemical processes and materials. T.I. Smith, and H.A. Schwettman, Chem. S.F. Swallen, and M.D. Fayer, J. Phys.