Discipline: Chemistry & Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: STEM Research
- Winston Salem State University
Co-Author(s): Jazmyn Y. Edwards, and Dynasty M. Parke, Winston Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC; David F. Plusquellic, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO
Recent advances in digital technology, driven by researchers in the electronic industry, have made the development of a new technique named segmented Chirped Pulse THz (CP-THz) spectroscopy possible. With broadband ranges in the 0.3 to 1 THz region, the application of CP-THz spectroscopy provides researchers with the ability to investigate reaction dynamics at room temperature as well as the structurally sensitive analysis of biologically relevant molecule such as N-acetyl-proline and Biotin. The recorded spectrum exhibits unique rotationally resolved features in the THz frequency region under thermally heated conditions and the laser ablation technique. This technology is paired with the utilization of an absorption cell sample chamber (White cell) enabled to probe the gas-phase molecules capturing unparalleled sensitivity, speed, and spectral coverage with coherent chirped-pulse excitation. The spectral analysis was performed with a spectral fitting software, JB95, in conjunction with ab initio calculated structures. The results shows some evidence indicating the possible occurrence of a chemical pyrolysis process. This technique shows great promise for possible future studies of larger biological molecules. The relevance of our findings to the function of several biological systems will be discussed.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): Funding provided by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, MARC U*STAR Program T34GM070416, NIGMS-RISE R25GM113774, and NSF-HBCU RIA-150531
Faculty Advisor: None Listed,