Our research focuses on ultrafast (~10-12 sec) vibrational and electronic dynamics in molecular solids by the use of coherent nonlinear time-resolved laser spectroscopy. Novel laser systems are designed to generate ultrashort laser light pulses which are used as time-resolved probes of molecular dynamics. Variable temperature (e.g. 1.1 - 1000 K) and diamond anvil techniques are utilized to control intermolecular interactions under extreme temperature and pressure conditions.

The following projects investigate chemical dynamics and novel applications of molecular solids:

(1) The Dynamics of Molecular Solids at High Pressure. Diamond anvil high pressure cells (~105 atm) are used to alter intermolecular distances, while picosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman and photon echo spectroscopies are used to probe energy relaxation and dephasing in molecular solids.

(2) The Dynamics of Organically Doped Sol-Gel Glasses, and Development of Sol-Gel Clad Fiber Optic Sensors. The molecular dynamics (e.g. energy transfer and rotational motion), optical response (e.g. fast optical switching), and chemical sensor characteristics of these unique porous glasses are being investigated.

(3) Vibrational Energy Bottlenecks in Molecular Solids. The mechanism by which vibrational modes store and dispose of vibrational energy is important for determining chemical reactivity.

(4) Transient Acoustic Grating Measurements at Simultaneous High Pressure and Temperature. Optically induced acoustic waves are used to probe elastic constants and the equation of state of technologically relevant materials under high pressure.

Selected Publications

Crowell, R.A.; Chronister, E.L. “A Picosecond Raman Study of Vibrational Relaxation in Naphthalene at High Pressure and Low Temperature,” J. Phys. Chem. 1992, 96, 9660-9666.

L’Espérance, D.; Chronister, E.L. “Rotation-al Dynamics of Quinizarin in Silicate and Aluminosilicate Solutions, Gels, and Glasses,” Chem. Phys. Lett. 1993, 201, 229-235.

Crowell, R.A.; Chronister, E.L. “A Photon Echo Study of Pentacene in Naphthalene at High Pressure,” Chem. Phys. Lett. 1993, 216, 293-299.

Baer, B.J.; Chronister, E.L. “Temperature and Pressure Dependent Optical Dephasing of Pentacene in Triclinic and Monoclinic Para-terphenyl,” J. Phys. Chem. 1995, 99, 7324-7329.

Baer, B.J.; Crowell, R. A.; Chronister, E.L. “High-Pressure Low-Temperature Optical Dephasing of Rhodamine 101 in PMMA,” Chem. Phys. Lett. 1995, 237, 380-386.

Lee, I-Y.S; Hill, J.R.; Suzuki, H.; Dlott, D.D.; Baer, B.J.; Chronister, E.L. “Molecular Dynamics Observed 60 Picosecond Behind a Solid-State Shock Front,” J. Chem. Phys. 1995, 103, 8313-8321.

Flores, J.J.; Chronister, E.L. “Pressure Dependent Raman Shifts of Molecular Vibrations in PMMA and Polycarbonate Polymers,” J. Raman Spect. 1996, 27, 149-153.

Browne, C.A.; Tarrant, D.H.; Olteanu, M.; Mullens, J.W.; Chronister, E.L. Intrinsic Sol-Gel Clad Fiber Optic Sensors with Time-Resolved Detection,” Anal. Chem. 1996, 68, 2289-2295.

Berg, O.; Chronister, E.L. “Optical Dephasing in Pentacene-Doped PMMA Under High Pressure,” J. Chem. Phys. 1997, 106, 4401-4408.

Baer, B.J.; Brown, J.M.; Zaug, J.M.; Schiferl, D.; Chronister, E.L. "Impulsive Stimulated Scattering in Ice VI and Ice VII," J. Chem. Phys. 1998, 108, 4540-4544.

Lloyd, P.; Berg, O; Thiyagarajan, P.; Trouw, F.; Chronister, E. L. “Methane Dynamics in Porous Xerogels Characterized by Small-angle and Quasielastic Neutron Scattering,” Chem. Phys. Lett. 2000, 328, 203-213.

Zhao, L.; Baer, B. J.; Yamaguchi, M.; Than, H. T.; Yarmoff, J.; Chronister, E. L. "Impulsive Stimulated Scattering of Surface Acoustic Waves on Metal and Semiconductor Crystal Surfaces," J. Chem. Phys. 2001, 114, 4989-4997.

Shamansky, L. M.; Luong, K. M.; Han, D.; Chronister, E. L. "Photoinduced Kinetics of Bacteriorhodopsin in a Dried Xerogel Glass," Biosensors & Bioelectronics 2002, 17, 227-231.

Yamaguchi, M.; McIntire, M.; Chronister, E. L. "Optical Dephasing in tert-tetrabutyl Terylene Doped Polyisobutylene Under High Pressure," J. Chem. Phys. 2002, 116, 1737-1743.

Wu, J.; Zhao. L.; Chronister, E. L.; Tolbert, S. H. "Elasticity through Nanoscale Distortions in Periodic Surfactant Templated Porous Silica under High Pressure," J. Phys. Chem. B 2002, 106, 5613-5621.

Yamaguchi, M.; Serafin, S. V.; Morton, T. H.; Chronister, E. L. "Infrared Absorption Studies of n-Heptane Under High Pressure," J. Phys. Chem. B 2003, 107, 2815-2821.

L. Zhao, R. Lian, I.A. Shkrob, R.A.Crowell, S. Pommeret, E. L. Chronister, A. D. Liu, A.D.Trifunac " Ultrafast Studies on the Photophysics of Matrix-Isolated Radical Cations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons," J. Phys. Chem. B 2004, 108(1), 25-31.

M. Yamaguchi, B.J. Baer, A.V. Krukau, M.J. McIntire, C.M. Flannery, and E.L. Chronister " An impulsive stimulated scattering study of surface acoustic waves under high pressure," J. Luminescence 2004, 107, 359-368.

M.J. McIntire and E. L. Chronister " Low Temperature Photon Echo Study of 2-MTHF Glass under High Pressure," Optics and Spectroscopy 2005, 98(5), 687-691 (Roman Personov Special Issue).

M.J. McIntire, M. Yamaguchi, M.A. Kol'chenko, Y.G. Vanier, and E. L. Chronister " High Pressure Studies of Optical Dephasing in Polymer Glasses," J. Phys. Chem. B 2006, 110, 227-233.

M.J. McIntire and E. L. Chronister " Characterization of tunneling systems in molecular versus polymer glasses by high-pressure photon echo spectroscopy," J. Chem. Phys. 2006, 124, 014904.