Chemistry People: Faculty by Name:

Research Interests:

Our group is studying dynamical processes in a range of complex systems, such as liquids, solutions and proteins. The major experimental tool is femtosecond spectroscopy which is combined with both theory and computer simulation to interpreted the data. 

Our goal is to provide a molecular-level description of the role of solvents in chemical reactions. The dynamics of simple reactions in solution are probed by creating wavepackets on the reaction coordinate and monitoring the progress of the reaction through the motion of the wavepacket. We are building up a description of liquids in terms of a characteristic spectral density, which itself can be interpreted in molecular terms. 

A second goal is to develop complex electric fields (pulse sequences) for two purposes: to manipulate and modify molecular dynamics, rather than simply observe it, and to provide more detailed characterizations of molecular response functions and spectral densities. For example, current techniques for measuring spectral densities relevant to Raman or optical Kerr measurements cannot distinguish between homogeneous or inhomogeneous descriptions of the spectra. Non-resonant experiments at 5^th order can provide such a breakdown of the spectra, in analogy to
two-dimensional nmr. Taking this analogy further, two-dimensional vibrational spectroscopies have the potential to reveal time-resolved structural information on complex systems such as proteins.  We have developed the ability to control the relative phase of sequences of ultra short pulses and plan to use this new technique to both control and study molecular dynamics. 

The primary events in photosynthesis involve energy transfer and electron transfer on ultrashort time scales. Use is made of genetic modification methods to investigate the role of the protein on these astonishingly efficient processes. Both bacterial and higher plant systems are studied with a particular current goal being to understand the mechanism of regulation of light harvesting in plants.

Biography:

Professor of Chemistry and Deputy Laboratory Director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.  Born 1949; B Sc.(Honours) Chemistry, Bristol University, UK, 1971; Ph.D. Physical Chemistry, University of London, UK, 1974; Research Fellow, California Institute of Technology, USA, 1974-75; University Research Fellow, University of Melbourne, Australia, 1975-76; Leverhulme Fellow, Royal Institute, UK, 1977-79; University of Chicago: Assistant Professor, 1979-83; Associate Professor, 1983-85; Professor, 1985-87; Arthur Holly Compton Distinquished Service Professor, 1987-97; Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1991; Fellow, Royal Society of London, 1994; Inter-American Photochemical Society Award, 1996; Centenary Lecture and Medal, Royal Society of Chemistry, 1996; Peter Debye Award in Physical Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 1998; Harrision Howe Award in Chemistry, American Chemical Society, 1999.