Exploring the Ultrafast Dynamics of Liquid Through the Next Generation of Solvation Spectroscopies

Brown University, Providence RI

Investigators

Abstract

Richard Stratt of Brown University is supported by an award from the Theoretical and Computational Chemistry program for research to develop theoretical and computational methods to simulate and understand ultrafast spectroscopic studies of solvation dynamics. These studies are focused on investigating the response of the solution to electronic excitation and invoke a three-time portrait of the solution dynamics rather than the traditional two-time picture. With the advent of ultrafast lasers, scientists are now able to study the details of solvent reorganization that occurs whenever a chemical reaction takes place. This work is helping to broaden our understanding of exactly how those processes occur. In addition to the scientific broader impact, the work is having a broader impact societally through Stratt's efforts in communicating the value and excitement of scientific research to the public through a series of general interest presentations.