Melanie Reber

          The Reber lab uses fiber-laser frequency combs to do ultrafast chemistry. Ultrafast spectroscopy is used for real-time tracking of dynamics in quantum mechanical systems on the femtosecond (10-15s) timescale. We are interested in developing new ultrafast laser technology and spectroscopies with frequency comb lasers. We combine chemistry, physics, electrical, and optical engineering to build the instruments and then apply them to look at fundamental physical chemistry problems. 

Specifically, we have a cavity-enhanced ultrafast transient absorption spectrometer. Current projects on the transient absorption spectrometer include studying the excited state dynamics of hydrocarbon radicals, as are relevant to atmospheric chemistry, combustion chemistry, and interstellar chemistry. A second project is studying the complex quantum dynamics of conical intersections in the gas phase.

The second instrument is a cavity-enhanced two-dimensional spectrometer. We are obtaining proof-of-concept data on cavity-enhanced 2D spectroscopy and then will look at 2D spectroscopy as a method to characterize molecules for quantum control applications.

The third instrument involves designing and building a new frequency comb based upon electro-optical modulation instead of ultrafast lasers. We will use this for dual-comb spectroscopy as applied both to physical chemistry questions and analytical chemistry applications.

These technologies have application in physical chemistry and analytical chemistry as well as quantum computing and defense/national security applications. We are also very interested in quantum computing and quantum technologies and the important roll physical chemistry plays in those active areas of research. The Reber Lab is looking for new graduate students from chemistry, physics, or engineering who aren't afraid to learn new things!