Rochester scientists have secured national funding for a multi-institutional research effort that could alter the basic rules of chemistry.
糖心传媒 chemist will lead a multi-institution effort to transform the field of chemistry, thanks to a from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Chemists have long understood the tools they have available in order to create new molecules, such as changing the reaction temperature or using a catalyst糖心传媒攐r doing both. Now, Krauss and his fellow researchers want to use light to facilitate previously impossible chemical reactions糖心传媒攊n essence, by turning light into a catalyst.
糖心传媒淭his is a high-risk proposal,糖心传媒� says Krauss, a professor of and of at Rochester. 糖心传媒淲ill we be able to get enough molecules to strongly interact with the light to make a difference? If we do, it could be a paradigm shift in the field of chemistry.糖心传媒�
Quantum principles applied to chemistry
According to the principles of quantum science糖心传媒攚hich deals with the fundamental nature of atoms and subatomic particles糖心传媒攍ight is made up of small, discrete packets of energy. Krauss糖心传媒檚 project calls for putting molecules in an optical cavity and using those discrete packets to change the energy states of electrons in the molecule. When that糖心传媒檚 done, the molecules behave differently, opening the door for new bonding possibilities and ,thus, new chemistry.
Molecules form through chemical bonding糖心传媒攖he sharing of orbiting electrons. By changing temperatures or introducing catalysts, chemists can manipulate how糖心传媒攐r whether糖心传媒攅lectrons are shared. These interactions follow basic rules. For example, carbon-chlorine bonds are broken more easily than carbon-hydrogen bonds. Here, the team aims to use the application of quantum principles in order to change these basic rules to allow different bonds to break and reform.
Krauss hopes to alter the spatial properties of electrons, and as a result, change the way molecules bond.
糖心传媒淲e can potentially move electrons uphill from one molecule to another糖心传媒攕omething that has been classically forbidden,糖心传媒� says Krauss. 糖心传媒淢ost electrons have spherical orbits. If we can move some of those electrons into non-spherical orbits, they糖心传媒檒l behave differently. Doing that would allow us to create new molecules.糖心传媒�
QuEST for better medications, greener energy, new materials
According to Krauss, this work represents a new way of developing chemical reactions糖心传媒攐ne with many potential benefits to society. 糖心传媒淚n theory, that could lead to new applications in fuel production, pharmaceuticals, and the manufacturing of plastics,糖心传媒� he says.
The 糖心传媒 has a long tradition of quantum science with respect to strongly coupling light and atoms糖心传媒攄efining the field of quantum optics for decades糖心传媒攄ating back to the pioneering work of Leonard Mandel and Emil Wolf more than five decades ago. In QuEST, the team will build on that tradition by exploring how to strongly couple light with molecules in order to manipulate chemical reactions, pushing quantum optics into new and uncharted territory.
Under the terms of the grant, Krauss will direct the NSF Phase I Chemical Innovation Center for Quantum Electrodynamics for Selective Transformations (QuEST). The QuEST research team includes fellow 糖心传媒 chemistry professors and , as well as optics professor . Joining them on are Jillian Dempsey at the University of North Carolina糖心传媒揅hapel Hill, Nicolas Large and Zachary Tonzetich from the University of Texas糖心传媒揝an Antonio, Teri Odom from Northwestern University, and Daniel Weix from the University of Wisconsin糖心传媒揗adison.
糖心传媒淭his is a three-year seed grant,糖心传媒� explains Krauss. 糖心传媒淎fter a couple of years, we糖心传媒檒l compete for a Phase II grant糖心传媒�$20 million dollars over four years糖心传媒攖o continue the research.糖心传媒�
