Chemical physics has traditionally been concerned with understanding the structure and behavior of molecules in terms of the underlying dynamics of the atomic components. Experimental and theoretical investigations have mainly focused on individual molecules and small molecular systems. Several powerful approaches have been developed and/or applied in this area. These include (but are not limited to) scattering experiments employing photons, electrons, atoms and molecules; spectroscopies using high-resolution lasers and time-resolved pulsed laser methods; magnetic resonance techniques for NMR, EPR and Fourier transform mass spectroscopy; ultra-high vacuum technology; computational techniques, including supercomputer applications; and theoretical analyses by development of fundamental quantum and statistical mechanical formalisms. In addition to the effort directed towards chemical behavior, many investigators in recent years have recognized that these same approaches can be applied to the intrinsically complicated behavior and properties encountered in Materials and Surface Sciences.

Chemical Physics Research Areas

• structure of molecules and short-lived intermediates
• thermodynamics of complex formation and phase stabilities and diagrams
• magnetic resonance applications
• composition and structure of clusters, surfaces, high-Tc superconductors and compositionally modulated materials
• long-range order phenomena
• dynamics of chemical reactions
• intra- and intermolecular energy transfer and relaxation phenomena
• surface and cluster dynamics and reactions
• the mechanisms of superconductivity and other phenomena associated with the high-Tc superconducting materials
• intermolecular forces
• spectral intensities and chemi- and physisorption
• electric and magnetic properties of matter