Research Summary

Dr. Fuller’s research interests are the spectroscopic characterization of transient species and instrumental design and construction.  Additionally I have an interest in astrochemistry, specifically the determination of the species responsible for the so called unidentified infrared emission bands (UIR) and the diffuse interstellar absorption bands (DIB).  Even though these bands were shown to be of interstellar origin over thirty and seventy-five years ago respectively, the carriers of these bands have yet to be identified.  Several classes of carbon-bearing molecules have been proposed as carriers of these bands.  Of current interest are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) type species, i.e. PAHs that are ionized, complexed (e.g. with metals), fragmented, etc. and, in particular, transition metal-PAH complexes.

These transient complexes are studied using matrix isolation spectroscopy.  This technique involves trapping a short-lived species in a rare gas, cryogenic matrix (10K).  The matrix is then characterized using standard spectroscopic methods, e.g. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman, and ultraviolet/visible (absorption and emission) spectroscopy.  In concert with experimental methods, spectral analysis is aided by ab initio and density functional theory calculations using the Gaussian Program Suite.

Selected Publications

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