Developing an Ultrafast Two-Dimensional Infrared (2DIR) Setup

• Saul Tonalli Rodriguez Vazquez, Physics, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi
• Olivia Tancredi, Chemistry, University of Delaware

• Ariel Alperstein, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware

Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (2DIR) is an ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy technique that can provide detailed molecular information and can capture real-time behavior, such as, protein structural changes over time. 2DIR spectroscopy reveals cross peaks due to coupling that is inaccessible in linear IR spectroscopy and can be incorporated into a microscope to give spatially relevant information. These insights are crucial for understanding exactly how protein structural changes impact protein function and interactions.

During this summer project, significant progress was made in the initial building development of the 2DIR pump-probe setup. A major component of the 2DIR setup is the pulse shaper, which allows us to precisely control the time and phase relationship of the two pulses in our pump beam. We successfully aligned the pulse shaper this summer, as well as began initial work into the remaining optical alignment, initial steps for control of the optomechanical devices using LabView software, and initial work into data analysis with MATLAB.

This initial work will be built on this fall with the completion of the 2DIR setup, and will be pivotal for future research projects, such as enabling detailed studies on the presence of microplastics in biological samples and how protein structures are affected by these plastics.