Photonics & Photochemistry
Photonics deals generally with the interaction of light and matter and is a highly interdisciplinary branch of science. Much of the work in the Chemistry Department occurs at the interfaces of spectroscopy, surface science, fast time-resolved laser phototransient chemistry, and investigations of biomolecule probes. Some Chemistry faculty maintain laboratories in Boston University's new Photonics Research Center, one goal of which is the commercial development of photonics-enabled technologies.
Associated Faculty
Guilford Jones, II
Photoluminescence and photonic devices
This research focuses on utilizing fluorescence properties of organic
dyes in a variety of applications that include the monitoring of conformational
changes and the concentrations of water soluble polymers. Other applications
include the development of unique luminescent marks that can be used
in covert marking of documents or products. A new company, PhotoSecure,
Inc. has been founded based on work in the use of photoluminescent marking
systems and associated detector system development.
John Porco
Photochemical methods in combinatorial synthesis
This research is aimed at developing new methodologies for chemical synthesis,
using chemical taggants, and their application to the preparation of
complex molecules. This work includes the development of deprotection
strategies using photochemical transformations that will facilitate "streamlined" or
combinatorial synthesis.
Lawrence Ziegler
Ultrafast spectroscopy
Work in our laboratory is centered on the development and application
of ultrafast, femtosecond laser techniques for the study of nuclear motions
and electronic relaxation processes in a variety of materials. The structure
and dynamics of liquids and biopolymers, surface enhanced femtosecond
spectroscopy and femtosecond photochemistry are all areas of current
interest.
Associated Graduate Courses
The following graduate courses in the specialization area of photochemistry are offered:
GRS CH 723 - Physical Chemistry of Biological Macromolecules
Prereq: CAS CH 352, GRS CH 651, CH 652, CH 621, or consent of instructor. Physical properties and structures of proteins and related biological macromolecules. Size and shape of macromolecules; denaturation and cohesive forces in proteins; protein folding methods for studying biological macromolecules in solution and in the crystalline state. Lee. 4 cr, 2nd sem.
GRS CH 752 - Advanced Topics in Chemical Physics
Prereq: GRS CH 652. Current topics of research in theoretical, computational, and experimental chemical physics. Content varies with the instructor but may include material from such areas as advanced methods in molecular spectroscopy and magnetic resonance, nonlinear laser-induced phenomena, and photoionization and electron-molecule scattering. Coker, Keyes, Straub, Ziegler. 4 cr, either sem.
CAS PY 521 - Electromagnetic Theory I
Prereq: CAS PY 405. Vector and tensor analysis. Electrostatics, uniqueness, electrostatic energy, capacitance. Boundary value problems, conformal mapping, variable separation, Green's functions. Multipole expansion, electric polarization, atomic models, anisotropic media. Contour integration and application to frequency-dependent dielectric constant. Dielectrics, electrostatic energy, boundary value problems. Ahlen. 4 cr., 1st sem.
CAS PY 522 - Electromagnetic Theory II
Prereq: CAS PY 521. Continuation of CAS PY 521. Magnetostatics, dipole moment, magnetic materials, boundary value problems. Electromagnetic induction, magnetic energy, Maxwell's equations. Electromagnetic waves in materials, reflection, refraction. Waveguides. Scattering and diffraction. Special relativity, Lorentz transformation, covariant electrodynamics. Interaction of charges with matter. Radiation, Lienard-Wiechert potential, synchrotron radiation, antennas. Ahlen. 4 cr., 2nd sem.
ENG SC 560 - Introduction to Photonics
ENG SC 570 - Lasers and Applications