The research in our group involves studies of the spectroscopy and dynamics of molecules and weakly bound molecular complexes in ultracold molecular beams. One area of research pertains to the elucidation of intermolecular forces via high resolution rotational-vibrational spectroscopy of gas-phase molecular complexes . Weak intermolecular forces are pervasive and extremely important in chemistry. Our studies employ novel nonlinear Raman and picosecond-resolved spectroscopic techniques in an effort to characterize such forces through the determination of the geometries and vibrational structures of the complexes. A second area of interest relates to the study of weak intramolecular interactions such as those that determine the conformation of an alkyl chain moiety on a given species. Here, again, high resolution rotational and rovibrational spectroscopies, in conjunction with molecular beam techniques, are used to obtain information on the potential energy surfaces characterizing these intramolecular forces. Finally, we are interested in following the dynamics of isolated (i.e., gas-phase) molecules directly in the time domain. Intramolecular energy flow processes and photochemical reactions, and the dependence of such processes on various parameters, are being studied by means of picosecond spectroscopic techniques.   
 

UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry   |   UCLA
Box 951569 (post)   607 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569

Phone: (310) 206-6924   |   Fax: (310) 206-4038   |   E-mail: felker@chem.ucla.edu
 

1. Peter Felker, David M. Hayes, and Leslie A. Hull:
"The calculation of monocyclic molecular structure using MINDO/3,"
Theor. Chim. Acta 55, 293-297 (1980).

2. Wm.R. Lambert, P.M. Felker and A.H. Zewail:
"Observation of intracavity absorption of molecules in supersonic beams,"
J. Chem. Phys. 74, 4732-4734 (1981).

3. Wm.R. Lambert, P.M. Felker and A.H. Zewail:
"Quantum beats and dephasing in isolated large molecules cooled by supersonic jet expansion and excited by picosecond pulses: Anthracene,"
J. Chem. Phys. 75, 5958-5960 (1981).

4. A. Zewail, Wm. Lambert, P. Felker, J. Perry and W. Warren:
"Laser probing of vibrational energy redistribution and dephasing,"
J. Phys. Chem. 86, 1184-1142 (1982).

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Current members of Felker Group

Peyman Benharash, Soohyun Lee, Taiho Kim, Michael Gleason

Former members of Felker Group

Mark Schaeffer, Wousik Kim, Joanne Romascan