Experimental Biophysics
Our research group uses modern femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopies to investigate the photophysical and photochemical properties of biomolecular building blocks and their clusters. Biophotonic functions are triggered through light activation. The photoexcited biomolecules can undergo a variety of relaxation processes and the competition between these processes governs the selectivity, efficiency and reliability of their function. Our intention is to discern in detail relaxation processes in individual biomolecules and study the effect of intermolecular interactions (the local environment) on these dynamics. The main emphasis is on experimental research however the interpretation of our data is usually supported by ab inito quantum mechanical calculations. The understanding of dynamical processes in molecules is relevant to a variety of active research areas ranging from biomedical (e.g. light activated drugs) to molecular electronics (e.g. molecular switches) applications.
We are a new group in the department and are currently setting up the laser laboratory. During Fall 2005 / Spring 2006 we will be working on the following projects:
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Installation of an amplified femtosecond laser system; generation of a tunable UV pump and a 200nm probe pulse through harmonic generation and sum frequency generation
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Assembly of a self-designed photoelectron photoion coincidence spectrometer
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Computer control of the experiment, data acquisition and data analysis
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me: ullrich@physast.uga.edu