Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The Lipson group will undertake research in mass spectrometry, molecular spectroscopy, and photonics.    In the area of mass spectrometry, Lipson and co-workers will interface a short wavelength vacuum ultraviolet (VUV, wavelengths between 100 nm and 200 nm) laser to a matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometer. The neutral molecule concentration in the MALDI is much larger than that of the primary MALDI ions created. Post-ionization of the neutrals with a VUV laser will therefore significantly enhance the sensitivity of MALDI mass spectrometry by orders of magnitude. The Lipson group will also explore the use of visible light absorbing laser dyes as MALDI matrices with a widely tunable optical parametric oscillator.    The Lipson group will use their expertise in single and multiphoton laser spectroscopy to study the high energy electronic states of small polyatomic molecules such as C2H2Br2.  The fine structure resolved in these spectra will allow excited state molecular geometries to be established for the first time.    Lipson and his students have developed new approaches to optical lithography for the fabrication of photonic band gap crystals. In this funding cycle the Lipson group will explore several new directions including: lithographic fabrication of three-dimensional crystals that are capable of operating in the visible to near infrared spectral range; synthesis and characterization of high index  polymer resists containing Si, Ge and Sn moieties so that active crystals can be made directly in one step; fabrication of quantum dot arrays, synthesis and characterization of nonlinear photonic structures that incorporate beta-barium borate (BBO), and biofilm patterning.