5 Topic Commentaries

Spectroscopy Roundup: Chips, Water, and Moving Signals 

Spectroscopy Roundup: Chips, Water, and Moving Signals 

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  Derek Kita, Doctoral student (PhD candidate); B.S.

  Photonic integrated circuits; on‑chip spectroscopy

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  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  there’s a huge benefit in terms of robustness. You could drop it off the table without causing any damage.

  Source
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  Donhee Ham, PhD

  Electrical engineering and applied physics; NMR instrumentation

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  Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

  But in many circumstances—for example, many experiments in biochemistry or organic chemistry, quality control in production lines, or chemical reaction monitoring—you’re doing NMR on smaller molecules, and for those applications the big superconducting magnets may be avoided.

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  Andrei Tokmakoff, PhD

  Physical chemistry; ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy

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  The University of Chicago

  Through a sequence of these pulses we can design experiments that give us a lot of information about the molecular structure before it changes, even if it is constantly moving,” Tokmakoff explained.

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  Agustín J. Colussi, PhD (Physical Chemistry)

  Physical chemistry of air–water interfaces; mass spectrometry

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  California Institute of Technology

  Nothing gets into the bulk without crossing the interface,” says Colussi.

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  Joseph A. Fournier, PhD

  Physical chemistry; ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy; proton transfer

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  Washington University in St. Louis

  However, the experimental and technical challenges faced in studying the proton in water has left these models unverified. We feel this study offers the most comprehensive experimental view into the complicated nature of how water interacts with protons.

  Source