Massachusetts Institute of Technology, B.S., Physics (1976)
University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D., Physics (1985)
Research Interests:
My research is in the field of experimental molecular spectroscopy. My laboratory programs emphasize, but are not limited to, molecular transitions of interest to the astrophysical, aeronomic, and planetary atmospheres communities. The bulk of my work has involved the measurement and interpretation of high-resolution absorption spectra of vacuum ultraviolet (100-200 nm) and extreme ultraviolet (50-100 nm) transitions. I am also active in the field of Fourier transform spectroscopy of diatomic molecules, and I have a continuing interest in laser spectroscopies of diatomics.
Research Projects:
I am involved in a number of laboratory projects focusing on the EUV (extreme ultraviolet) and VUV (vacuum ultraviolet) absorption spectra of diatomic and triatomic molecules of astrophysical interest. I measure and analyze absolute photoabsorption cross sections (or equivalently, transition probabilities or oscillator strengths), line widths, and wavelengths of molecular features that are needed for the interpretation of the photophysics and photochemistry of both astronomical sources and the Earths atmosphere. These projects are currently supported by grants to Wellesley College from the NASA Planetary Atmospheres, Origins of Solar Systems, and Exobiology programs.
In recent years, a number of Wellesley students have worked with me on the projects below, including Yomay Shyur ('11), Lucy Archer ('12), Hannah Herde ('14), Kathryn Ledbetter ('15), and Sormeh Yazdi ('16). Recent senior honors theses on these projects are:
Yomay Shyur: "Studying Molecular Photoabsorption in the UV: Measurement and Models"
Lucy Archer: "Photoabsorption Spectroscopy in the Vacuum Ultraviolet: Measurements and Modeling of CO and CO2"
Hannah Herde: "Ultraviolet Absorption Properties of Diatomic Sulfur"