Calvin, Hope, Kalamazoo Earn Grant for Laser

August 30, 2004 == MEDIA ADVISORY

There was a time when lasers were the stuff of science fiction (the word is
actually an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of
Radiation). Today lasers are ubiquitous - everything from grocery store
scanners to the pointers used by public speakers to portable CD players takes
advantage of laser technology.

Yet there are still lasers that seem more like sci fi than Walkman. And
thanks to a $222,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, four colleges,
including three area schools, are making plans to share such a laser.

A unique collaboration of chemists from Calvin College, Hope College,
Kalamazoo College and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, partnered with
faculty at Purdue University, have obtained a grant to buy a high-end tunable
laser system for use in chemical research.

Calvin professor Mark Muyskens says that while this laser system uses the same
basic principles as a $10 laser pointer, its sophistication will allow
professors at all four schools to do research at their home institutions at a
more advanced level.

All of the research projects planned for the new laser system focus on
fundamental aspects of the chemistry of gases, some with significance in
atmospheric chemistry. Another key feature of all of the research projects,
says Muyskens, is to enhance the involvement of college students as
undergraduate researchers, with the laser system providing an important tool
for training students in advanced scientific techniques.

"The new laser will provide tunable light over a wide range of wavelengths
from visible to ultraviolet light," he says. "The ultraviolet light allows us
to start chemical reactions, while the visible light allows us to do ultra
sensitive detection of molecules. Producing this tunable laser light is
technically challenging, requiring a series of light conversion techniques
starting with a very high power infrared laser."

Muyskens and his wife Karen share a single position in the Calvin chemistry
department. Karen Muyskens says she and her husband have two significant goals
as Calvin professors.

"We want to be active as scientists in studying interesting chemical
processes," she says, "and we want to train college students to be
scientists."

The new laser system will help the Muyskens meet both goals they say.

For the past nine years Mark and Karen have studied the photochemistry of
fluorine-containing molecules, including the production of hydrogen fluoride.
The new laser will help them continue that research. It also will enhance a
new area of research for the duo, the study of gases, including atmospheric
pollutants - work that began in 2002-2003 during their sabbatical at the
University of California at Riverside.

The laser system will reside at each participating institution for a period of
time ranging from three to nine months. The Muyskens will be the first users
during the summer of 2005. They will also have the laser system at Calvin
College during the 2006-2007 school year.

The consortium plans to specify, bid, purchase and test the laser system this
school year.

Contact Mark Muyskens at 616-526-6269 or muym@calvin.edu or Karen Muyskens at
526-6864 or muyk@calvin.edu

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Received on Sun Aug 29 23:59:02 2004