Brooks Pate—2013 Recipient of the Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics

The 2013 recipient of the Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, an award sponsored by the AIP journal, The Journal of Chemical Physics, and the APS Division of Chemical Physics was Professor Brooks Pate of the University of Virginia. Professor Pate was selected for the development of innovative microwave spectroscopy techniques that take full advantage of new technologies, allowing new insights into rotational and vibrational relaxation in complex molecules.

Recipient Profile:  Professor Brooks Pate earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in 1987 and his doctorate from Princeton University in 1992.  Dr. Pate then returned to the University of Virginia one year later to pursue his research career as a Professor of Chemistry in 1993.  He is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship (sometimes called a “genius grant”) in 2001.

Professor Pate studies the dynamics of molecules with significant amounts of vibrational energy, using microwave and laser spectroscopy, to probe molecules either in isolation or in dilute solutions.  The Pate Group at UVA has developed a new type of molecular spectroscopy called dynamic rotational spectroscopy to study isomerization reactions via changes in the molecule’s rotational spectrum.  Along with many advances in instrument development, including Chirped Pulse Fourier Transform Microwave for broadband spectroscopy, his recent work focuses on structural studies of molecules and clusters, probing complex molecule formation in the interstellar medium, and ultrafast chemical dynamics.

Dr. Pate presented his research at the 2013 APS March meeting in Baltimore, MD.  The lecture, entitled “Broadband Rotational Spectroscopy for Chemical Kinetics, Molecular Structure, and Analytical Chemistry” was held in Session C43 at 2:30PM on Monday, March 18.  For more details and to read the abstract, head to the APS Meeting website.

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Highlighted JCP papers by Dr. Pate:

Microwave measurements of proton tunneling and structural parameters for the propiolic acid–formic acid dimer
Adam M. Daly, Kevin O. Douglass, Laszlo C. Sarkozy, Justin L. Neill, Matt T. Muckle, Daniel P. Zaleski, Brooks H. Pate, and Stephen G. Kukolich
J. Chem. Phys. 135, 154304 (2011).

Motional narrowing of the rotational spectrum of trifluoropropyne at 6550 cm⁻¹ by intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution
Kevin O. Douglass, Brian C. Dian, Gordon G. Brown, James E. Johns, Pradeep M. Nair, and Brooks H. Pate
J. Chem. Phys. 121, 6845 (2004).

Intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution and conformational isomerization in vibrationally excited 2-fluoroethanol: High-resolution, microwave-infrared double-resonance spectroscopy investigation of the asymmetric –CH₂(F) stretch near 2980 cm⁻¹
David Green, Sarah Hammond, John Keske, and Brooks H. Pate
J. Chem. Phys. 110, 1979 (1999).

The rotational spectrum of a highly vibrationally mixed quantum state. II. The eigenstate-resolved spectroscopy analog to dynamic nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Brooks H. Pate
J. Chem. Phys. 110, 1990 (1999).

The rotational spectra of single molecular eigenstates of 2-fluoroethanol: Measurement of the conformational isomerization rate at 2980 cm⁻¹
David A. McWhorter, Evan Hudspeth, and Brooks H. Pate
J. Chem. Phys. 110, 2000 (1999).

Molecular-beam infrared–infrared double-resonance spectroscopy study of the vibrational dynamics of the acetylenic C–H stretch of propargyl amine
Anne M. Andrews, Gerald T. Fraser, and Brooks H. Pate
J. Chem. Phys. 109, 4290 (1998).

The rotational spectrum of highly vibrationally mixed quantum states of propynol near 3330 cm⁻¹
David Green, Rebecca Holmberg, Chung Yi Lee, David A. McWhorter, and Brooks H. Pate
J. Chem. Phys. 109, 4407 (1998).

The rotational spectrum of a highly vibrationally mixed quantum state. I. Intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) exchange narrowing of the rotational spectrum
Brooks H. Pate
J. Chem. Phys. 109, 4396 (1998).

Intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution in the acetylenic C–H and hydroxyl stretches of propynol
Evan Hudspeth, David A. McWhorter, and Brooks H. Pate
J. Chem. Phys. 109, 4316 (1998).

Doorway state enhanced intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution in the asymmetric =CH₂ hydride stretch of methyl vinyl ether
Sam Cupp, Chung Yi Lee, David McWhorter, and Brooks H. Pate
J. Chem. Phys. 109, 4302 (1998).

Dressed states of molecules and microwave–infrared double-resonance spectroscopic techniques employing an electric quadrupole focusing field
Chung Yi Lee and Brooks H. Pate
J. Chem. Phys. 107, 10430 (1997).

Structurally mixed molecular eigenstates of 2-fluoroethanol resulting from conformational isomerization
Evan Hudspeth, David A. McWhorter, and Brooks H. Pate
J. Chem. Phys. 107, 8189 (1997).

Sub‐Doppler, infrared laser spectroscopy of the propyne 2ν₁ band: Evidence of z‐axis Coriolis dominated intramolecular state mixing in the acetylenic CH stretch overtone
Andrew McIlroy, David J. Nesbitt, Erik R. Th. Kerstel, Brooks H. Pate, Kevin K. Lehmann, and Giacinto Scoles
J. Chem. Phys. 100, 2596 (1994).

Reinvestigation of the acetylenic C–H stretching fundamental of propyne via high resolution, optothermal infrared spectroscopy: Nonresonant perturbations to ν₁
E. R. Th. Kerstel, Kevin K. Lehmann, Brooks H. Pate, and G. Scoles
J. Chem. Phys. 100, 2588 (1994).

The rate of intramolecular vibrational energy relaxation of the fundamental C–H stretch in (CF₃)₃C–C≡C–H
Joan E. Gambogi, Kevin K. Lehmann, Brooks H. Pate, Giacinto Scoles, and Xueming Yang
J. Chem. Phys. 98, 1748 (1993).

Influence of methyl group deuteration on the rate of intramolecular vibrational energy relaxation
Joan E. Gambogi, Robert P. L’Esperance, Kevin K. Lehmann, Brooks H. Pate, and Giacinto Scoles
J. Chem. Phys. 98, 1116 (1993).

The onset of intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution and its intermediate case: The ν₁ and 2ν₁ molecular beam, optothermal spectra of trifluoropropyne
B. H. Pate, K. K. Lehmann, and G. Scoles
J. Chem. Phys. 95, 3891 (1991).

Statistical intramolecular vibrational relaxation and its hindrance: The fundamentals of (CH₃)₃C–C≡CH and (CH₃)₃Si–C≡CH
K. K. Lehmann, B. H. Pate, and G. Scoles
J. Chem. Phys. 93, 2152 (1990).

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