X-ray crystallographic studies of DNA elucidate its structure under various conditions while another active program investigates the motion of nucleic acids through gels under the influence of an electric field. A third research program examines new means to detect the antibody-antigen interaction. Cellular biophysics is represented by a project that measures the motion of single cells in culture by a novel electrical method. The aim of this research is to characterize cells, their interactions with surfaces, and to measure the effects of various chemical agents on cell motility. New concepts, materials, and techniques are developed for high technology applications.
Many research projects are interdisciplinary.
Experimental work on surfaces, interfaces, and nanostructures involves the deposition, growth, and characterization of metals, semiconductors, and insulators from monolayers to multilayers. The optical and electronic materials under study include heavy metal fluoride glasses for optical fibers, semiconductors, semiconductor microparticle composites, and amorphous semiconductors. Unusual optical characterization techniques include Raman, Brillouin, and Rayleigh scattering, photomodulation spectroscopy, photothermal deflection spectroscopy, magneto-optic Kerr effect, and Faraday rotation. Low-temperature measurements of Brillouin scattering are used to study phase transitions in spin glasses. A detailed study of electron transport in semiconductor materials is under way.