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Research interests in the Zwier group focus on problems at the interface between the traditional fields of molecular spectroscopy and dynamics. We develop and apply laser-based methods to study neutral molecules, ions, radicals, and molecular clusters of a size and complexity that test the large-molecule limits of current theories of chemical structure and dynamics.
Our current research interests have applications in the following three areas:
1. The investigation of conformational preferences, isomerization dynamics, and hydrogen bonding in biologically relevant neutral molecules, molecular ions, and molecular clusters. A particular current interest is synthetic foldamers, molecules designed to fold in well-defined ways that either mimic or complement the folding propensities of α-peptides found in nature.
2. The study of the photo-induced and discharge-driven chemistry and spectroscopy of molecules of importance in planetary atmospheres, particularly on Titan, one of the moons of Saturn.
3. The study of the chemistry, spectroscopy, and isomerization of molecules and radicals of importance in combustion, seeking to understand reactions and energy flow in aromatic derivatives that are intermediates along the pathway towards soot formation.
To learn more about research in our lab, please follow the links in the menu at the side of the page.
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