Chemistry 620
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Instructions for Research Paper

Your last assignment in Chem620 is to write a paper reviewing an emerging optical method or novel application of an optical method selected by the student (with the advice (if needed) and consent (required) of the instructor) .  This paper should be at least 12 pages, but no more than 18 pages long (double-spaced), not including figures and references .  The paper should focus on innovations in technology or applications of molecular spectroscopy methods.  You may elect to survey a method and describe the range of its application or focus on an application you find particularly intriguing.  If you select a more novel method, such as second harmonic generation, you just need to describe a few (2-3) applications that define the range of the method.  If you select a more traditional spectroscopic method, such as FTIR, your paper must focus on an innovative application of FTIR, such as characterizing the differences in smoke composition as function of the amount of time a cigarette has been lit.

The basic format for both types of paper is the same: Introduction, Theory, Instrumentation, Application(s), Conclusions. In either case, the paper must include descriptions of

  • the principles (light/matter interactions) underlying the method;
  • the instrumentation required;
  • how chemical information is recovered from the raw instrument output;
  • the significant sources of noise and any widely used noise suppression strategies.
The differences come in the emphasis and length of the various sections. Also, if you write a method paper it should discuss
  •  the principal advantages and disadvantages of the method relative to its well-established counterpart(s);
while an application paper should discuss
  • the principal advantages and disadvantages of the method for the application.
 

A good Introduction

  • Identifies and/or defines the subject of the paper
  • Summarizes the history/background of the subject
  • Previews the scope of the paper (provides compelling rationale, focus)

A good Theory (photon-matter interactions) section

  • Describes the source of (processes that occur in the sample that produce) the signals that are collected

A good Instrumentation section

  • Describes the layout of the instrument used to acquire the measurement that is the focus of paper completely
  • Summarizes the operation of familiar (discussed in class) components
  • Describes the operation of new (not discussed in class) components completely
  • Describes important variations in components and layout
  • Describes how variations in components and layout impact signal quality

A good Application(s) section

  • Recounts the details of a particular measurement or group of measurements that illustrate (even emphasize) the unique features of the measurement
  • Interprets the results of the measurement(s)

A good Conclusion section

  • Compares the results to those available using other methods
  • Briefly discuss aspects that require further development

See the ACS Style Guide: A Manual for Authors and Editors (2nd ed., Janet Dodd, Washington, DC: American Chemical Society, 1997 in Chem Library Reference) for guidance on technical writing including word usage, grammar and citation format. The Guide describes three citation systems used by ACS publications, any one of them is acceptable.


Each student will make a short oral presentation on the topic they've selected to write about in class. Students should use Power Point to prepare audio visual aids for the presentation and either email the talk to the instructor or bring it to class on a flashdrive. The length of the presentation will depend on the number of students making presentations. In Spring of 2008 the presentations should be approximately 25 minutes long. The structure of the presentations should follow that of the paper: Introduction; Principles; Instrumentation; Application Descriptions; Conclusions. See the webpages such as "Dazzle 'em with Style", "Making Effecive Oral Presentations" and "Effective Presentations" for advice about preparing your talk and visual aids (Power Point Slides). The form the class will use to evaluate in class presentations can be viewed here. Students should provide hard copies of their slides (4 slides per sheet) on which the audience can make notes. Ten copies will be enough for the Spring 2008 class. See Betty Cowgill (BRL 104) or SLN (LDL 107) for copier access.
 
Topics* for Method Papers
  1. Transient Absorption Measurements
  2. Polarized Absorption Spectroscopy
  3. Degenerative Four-Wave Mixing
  4. Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy
  5. Photoacoustic Spectroscopy
  6. Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy
  7. Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
  8. Near-field Scanning Optical Microscopy
  9. Two=Photon Fluorescence Microscopy
  10. Fluorescence Line-Narrowing Spectroscopy
  11. Chemiluminescence Spectroscopy
  12. Step-Scan FT-Infrared Spectroscopy
  13. Hyperspectral IR Imaging
  14. Attenuated Total Reflectance-IR mapping
  15. Transient (Time-Resolved) Infrared Spectroscopy
  16. FT Raman Spectroscopy
  17. Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman
  18. Raman Imaging
  19. Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
  20. FT Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
  21. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
  22. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Spectroscopy
  23. Second Harmonic Generation Spectroscopy
  24. Optical Detection of Magnetic Resonance

 

  
Topics* for Application Papers
  1. Optical Spectroscopy of Single Molecules
  2. Optical Spectroscopy of Biological Samples (Tissue, Cells, etc)
  3. Optical Spectroscopy of Thin Films
  4. Optical Spectroscopy of Quantum Dots
  5. Optical Spectroscopy of Trapped (Levitated) Droplets
  6. Optical Spectroscopy of Engineered Materials
  7. Stellar Spectroscopy
   

*Clearly, this is not a complete list.  It is offered as a starting point for investigation.  The technique topics can be refined by focusing on a particular application, i.e., Polarized Absorption Spectroscopy of Thin Fims.  If a topic is a central element of a paper discussed by the class, it should not be selected for independent study.