Nov 8
Chemistry Department Seminar: Tenure-Track Candidate
Leveraging Fundamental Physical Chemistry for Cosmic Discoveries and Climate Solutions
In this seminar, the candidate will present two recent projects, in which fundamental knowledge of physical chemistry is applied to: (1) gain insights into an astrophysical mystery and (2) enable a groundbreaking technology for climate science.
In the first project, the candidate applied foundational concepts in chemistry, such as molecular orbitals and electron configurations, to explain the rapid dissociation of the dicarbon C2 molecule on comets under sunlight. This work helps solve a century-old problem in astrophysics: why the comet head emits green light, but its long tail does not.
For the second project, the candidate will showcase the use of laser spectroscopy to tackle a major challenge in CO₂ monitoring: differentiating between fossil-fuel and biogenic emissions. This distinction requires accurate measurements of the ultrarare radiocarbon dioxide species (14CO₂). Achieving this goal demands not only the development of a new laser spectroscopic technique with record-breaking sensitivity, but also a detailed understanding of laser energy transfer both within and between molecules at the finest quantum-state-resolved level.
*This seminar counts toward the chemistry major requirement.