The ultrafast chemical-physics group

The main research interests in the ultrafast chemical-physics group are the study of ultrafast dynamics in the condensed phase, structure and femtosecond dynamics of proteins, and terahertz technology. One of the most interesting aspects of the work is that we cover a very broad range of sciences from the most fundamental physics to ‘dirty’ chemistry and biology. Check out ultrafast PhD projects on the departmental site. Read more about: Ultrafast spectroscopy.

About us

More information about individual group members can be found on the BCP Group Page. Go here for our picture diary. The UCP group members have ~£3M in currently running funding as primary investigators (Oct. 2009) and are part of several other projects as co-investigators.

The UCP lab

Since summer 2009, the ultrafast chemical-physics group occupies a new lab space funded in part by an S&I grant and in part by the University. It consists of a laser lab with three sections, a chemistry lab, a general lab, and a conference area. A mobile-phone movie of the lab is here (mp4, 3.7 MB).

Terahertz dynamics group (KW)

One of our great interests is the ultrafast dynamics of gloopy liquid-like states of matter such as liquids, proteins, and solutions of salts and sugars. Not only are these of great practical interest (just think of ice-cream), they are difficult to study and therefore require the development of new and exciting technologies.

Molecules in the condensed phase tend to jiggle back-and-forth on a timescale of about 1 ps corresponding to a frequency of 1 THz (terahertz). Therefore, the technological arm of our research programme is all about developing technologies for terahertz spectroscopy. This ranges from (relatively) simple optical Kerr-effect experiments to the development of ultrafast terahertz-pulse sources. For those terahertz sources, the group is now using nanotechnology to convert visible light into terahertz at unprecedented efficiency.

Read more about

• Terahertz spectroscopy and technology

Also have a look at

• Serving nanoparticle "soup"
• The science of syrup and traffic jams
• Observing ‘The Lubricant of Life’ -
  Ultrafast Dynamics Associated with the Helix-to-Coil Transition of a Polypeptide
• Nanotechnology leads to new terahertz-radiation sources

Ultrafast multidimensional spectroscopy group (NTH)

Our very latest work aims to observe the structural changes that occur at the active site of enzymes during their catalytic cycle. We are constructing a state-of-the-art two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectrometer that will be capable of following reactions and the structure of the active site of an enzyme in real time in unprecedented detail. This 2D-IR set-up will be unique in the UK although comparable work is being done at Imperial College. The work involves collaborations with RAL (the Rutherford Appleton Labs in Oxford) and the Max Born Institute in Berlin.

Read more about:

• Two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy of proteins

Also have a look at:

• Physicists in million-euro molecular movie

2010 SUPA Prize studentships

The Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA) is offering up to fifteen fully funded PhD studentships for outstanding students from anywhere in the world. These prestigious and competitive awards are intended to attract outstanding students to study for a PhD in Scotland. Applicants will be registered for a PhD in physics at one of the participating Universities - such as Strathclyde. An excellent training environment will be provided by the SUPA Graduate School, giving candidates access to a wide range of courses across Scotland. The deadline for applications is 31 January 2010.

Current members

	Klaas Wynne, prof and in the department since 1996.
	Neil Hunt, EPSRC Advanced Research Fellow and in the department since 2004.
	Robin Hochstrasser, visiting professor and Donner Professor of Physical Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania.
	David Turton, postdoc with KW since 2004
	Spyros Kaziannis, postdoc with NTH since 2008.
	Stefano Santabarbara, postdoc with NTH since January 2009.
	Marco Candelaresi, postdoc with KW since August 2009
	Meenu Kumar, postdoc with NTH and Reijn Ulijn since January 2010
	Scott Campbell, PhD student with KW since December 2007.
	Ian Stewart, PhD student with NTH since September 2007.
	Amy Welsh, PhD student with NH since October 2008.
	Rafal Kania, PhD student with NTH since 2008.
	Pim Frederix, PhD student with NTH joint with Reijn Ulijn since March 2010.
	David Martin, MSci and project student with KW/DAT 2008/2009
	Bob Dawson, research technician
	John Revie, research technician

former members

Kitsakorn Locharoenrat

Kitsakorn received his BS in Chemical Engineering from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand and continued for his MS in Processing Technology at the Asian Institute of Technology, Pathumthani, Thailand. His studied for his PhD in Physical Materials Science with Prof Mizutani at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), Ishikawa, Japan. He was a postdoctoral researcher in the Ultrafast group in BCP in 2008/9 and worked on novel terahertz radiation emitters based on nanostructured surfaces. He now works at Research for Electronic Science in Japan.

Gregor H. Welsh

Gregor studied physics at Strathclyde and did his PhD in our group graduating in June 2008 on the thesis entitled "Understanding and Control of Ultrafast Currents for Terahertz Pulse Generation". Bound copies of his thesis are available in the Physics reading room and the Strathclyde library. He is currently a postdoc in the TOPS group.

 

Andy Turner

Andy has been a postdoctoral fellow in the ultrafast sub-group from 2004-2006. As a theoretician, he provided theoretical insight into the varied experimental results. Andy is principally interested in using state-of-the-art computational and quantum theoretical techniques to study the dynamic properties of biological molecules. He is currently working in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh as Research Computing Officer.

John J. Carey

JJ studied Physics at Strathclyde and graduated with a BSc Hons in 1999. He is a former postgraduate student in KW's group and received his PhD in Physics in 2002 (You can download a copy of his thesis "Near-Field Effects of Terahertz Pulses" (PDF, 5Mb)). He has been a postdoc in the ultrafast sub-group studying varied aspects of terahertz pulses. He currently works with Coherent Scotland in Glasgow. He married Justyna (see below) and has two kids.

Gerard Giraud

GG did his undergrad partially in France and partially at Strathclyde. He was a postgrad student in our group working on optical Kerr-effect experiments to study room-temperature organic ionic liquids and proteins. His PhD thesis is online as a PDF file. GG now works at the University of Edinburgh.

 

Justyna Zawadzka

JZ got her master's degree in Poland and got her PhD working in the ultrafast group as a postgrad. Her research involved making femtosecond electron pulses by using multiphoton excitation of metal surfaces and surfaces modified by nanolithography. Her PhD thesis is online as a PDF file. She married John Carey (see above) and has two kids.

 

theses

• Reprint (PDF, 3.29Mb) of Gerard Giraud, "Ultrafast Vibrational Dynamics in Liquids and Proteins," PhD thesis, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, 2003.
• Reprint (4.71Mb PDF) of John J. Carey, "Near-field effects of THz pulses," PhD thesis, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, 2002.
• Reprint (PDF, 5.88Mb) of Justyna Zawadzka, "Generation and acceleration of ultrashort electron bunches," PhD thesis, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, 2002.