Scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) can determine the transfer of energy with the newly developed ultra-fast laser equipment. It can produce active pulses of light measuring only few femtoseconds from the UV to the infrared. It also enables the formulation of molecular structures for solar radiation.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council granted £466,000 as financial support for the development of new laser, which will be utilized for 2D electronic spectroscopy experiments. It allows the design and development of new solar power collectors and nanomachines, following the analysis of transfer of energy in natural as well as artificial systems including proteins and molecular materials.
The 2D electronic spectroscopy is almost similar to the 2D nuclear magnetic resonance method. In this method, pairing of molecular structures between electronic states are determined by using ultra fast visible light pulses whereas radio frequency pulses are used by NMR to measure couplings between nuclear spins.
Before two decades, majority of ultrafast experiments were based on amplified dye lasers. These complex devices were unable to produce positive outcomes. Its application was also limited as the results from the experiments were not satisfactory. The innovation of the titanium sapphire laser led to the achievement of an extended range of experiments.
Professor Alf Adams presented an inaugural address at the Royal Society in London, commemorating the milestone in his effort on strained quantum well lasers, which was distinguished as the ‘Top Ten greatest UK scientific innovations of all time’.