From THz to DUV: Exploring emission properties in biofilm and semiconductor structures with spectroscopy

PASSCODE: TRPL

Optical spectroscopy provides valuable insights into carrier dynamics without physically damaging the sample structure, making it ideal for studying sensitive biological and semiconductor systems. Samples can be excited by various energy sources, like optical pumping, thermal energy, and electric excitation, and then emit electromagnetic signals. By analyzing these emissions across a wide spectral range, one can extract detailed information about carrier behavior and intrinsic material properties under different conditions. Different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum correspond to distinct emission processes, enabling comprehensive characterization from molecular vibrations to electronic transitions. Time-resolved spectroscopic techniques further enhance these capabilities by allowing direct observation of carrier dynamics on ultrafast timescales.

In this study, we explore emission properties across a broad electromagnetic spectrum, from far-infrared to deep-ultraviolet, focusing on both biological and semiconductor systems using advanced spectroscopic techniques. In biological systems, terahertz emission spectroscopy is applied to Staphylococcus aureus biofilms, revealing potential communication mechanisms within microbial communities. In semiconductor systems, time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) and related methods are used to investigate charge carrier dynamics in III-nitride nanostructures, with applications in optoelectronics and photocatalysis. Key findings include the observation of charge carrier transfer in red-emitting InGaN/GaN μLEDs and efficient carrier separation in InGaN nanostructures optimized for water splitting.

CHAIR: Professor Theodore B. Norris