Laser spectroscopy of functional molecules. Frontier techniques of molecular laser spectroscopy and mass spectrometry will be developed and deployed to investigate the structure and function of molecules that underpin biological processes, drugs, and single molecule devices, including molecular motors, molecular switches, and energy harvesting systems.
Getting the drift - new frontiers in ion spectroscopy. This project will develop and harness ultra-sensitive techniques to understand the action of photo-active molecules involved in human vision, molecular motors and molecular memory. The new techniques will also help explore and exploit the properties of carbon and silicon nanoparticles, and may assist detection of exotic molecules in space.