Edwin Heilweil

Ultrafast Infrared and Terahertz Measurement of Molecular Reaction, Vibrational and Electronic Dynamics

Unique time-resolved infrared laser methods developed at NIST over the last few decades and an overview of their recent applications will be presented.  Methods include femtosecond and longer timescale mid-infrared (ca. 3 micron to 10 micron wavelength) and far-infrared (THz; ca. 100 micron to 300 micron wavelength) pump-probe spectroscopies.  Current research using these all-optical approaches reveals detailed molecular reaction dynamics in structurally designed organometallic photo-switches, Fe-Fe Hydrogenase model compounds and mixed donor-acceptor organic nanofilms for alternative solar energy conversion and fundamental carrier processes in a variety of organometallic (MOFs) and semiconductor photovoltaic nanomaterials.