THE SPECTROGRAPH Volume 24, Number 1 Fall 2007 George R. Harrison Spectroscopy Laboratory Massachusetts Institute of Technology Townes gives fi rst New space for Spec Lab Dasari Lecture By Michael S. Feld “Charles Townes is the perfect per- On October 5 MIT celebrated the comple- son to inaugurate the Dasari Lectures,” tion of its two-year, more than $50 million said Harrison Spectroscopy Labora- dollar construction project in Buildings 4, tory Director Michael Feld. That his 6 and 8. The project, called PDSI because assertion was no hyperbole became ap- it was undertaken for the Physics Depart- parent as Professor Townes gave his ment, the Department of Materials Sci- lecture, “The fun of a physics career.” ence and Engineering, the Spectroscopy His invention of the maser and, with Laboratory, and for Infrastructure, pro- vides modern research facilities and much needed new space. The heart of the cel- ebration was the dedication of the Green Center for Physics, which brings many physics faculty together in Bldg 6 and the newly built Bldg 6C. For the Harrison Spectroscopy Labora- Sol LeWitt’s work of art, “Bars of Colors within tory PDSI provides a new physical plant Squares” surrounds the new space (MIT) 2007 Pho- for modern research and applications tograph by George Bouret in spectroscopy. This modernized and trum of proteins. Later during that period expanded space allows the Spec Lab to Ali Javan and Charles Townes brought continue to offer researchers the most ad- lasers into the Spec Lab and opened the vanced equipment of the day and to con- era of modern spectroscopy. solidate and extend its remarkable tradi- As MIT’s fi rst interdepartmental Dr. Dasari presents the Bhagavad Gita to Prof. tions of interdisciplinary research. laboratory, the Spec Lab has always fos- Townes at the fi rst Dasari Lecture on Oct. 9 Since its founding in 1931 by Karl T. tered interdisciplinary research. Since I Arthur Schawlow, extension of the idea to Compton and George R Harrison, the became its director in 1976, we have striv- the laser, created essential tools of mod- Spectroscopy Laboratory has been a ma- en to expand and exploit the opportunities ern laser spectroscopy. When Townes jor center for research in spectroscopy. of such research. In 1979 the National came to MIT as Provost in 1961, Ali Ja- From the start it offered advanced facili- Science Foundation established a Region- Space, continues on page 2 van came with him. Their research on the ties of outstanding capability. With its fundamentals of laser physics and spec- specially built vibration-isolated building Also in this issue troscopy led to advances in understanding and its 40-foot walk-in spectrograph, the and technique that profoundly shaped the Spectroscopy Laboratory was tailor built ~Research Report subsequent development of the Spec Lab. and equipped for high resolution spectros- Hydrogen bond exchange in water copy. The world’s most precise diffraction Townes told a large and attentive audi- Research Report gratings were ruled here, and the famous ~ ence about the high points of his remark- Tomographic Phase Microscopy able career, a career in which he continues MIT wavelength tables were compiled to be productive at age 92. He stressed here. (This depression-era project kept ~Fall Seminar that serendipity taught him an unusual many unemployed physicists at work!) Modern Optics and Spectroscopy The Spec Lab has led in advances in mixture of theory, practical engineering ~Lester Wolfe Workshop theory and applications of the interactions knowledge, and experimental technique Modern Microscopy crucial to his successes. He also drew an of light with matter, the essence of spec- important moral from his experiences. troscopy. After he succeeded George Har- ~Spectral Lines When leading physicists of the day, in- rison in 1946 to become Director of the More than a burner cluding the head of his department at Spec Lab, Richard Lord pioneered devel- ~Editorial opment of Raman and infrared spectros- Columbia University, told him he was Original work in The Spectrograph Townes, continues on page 3 copy and obtained the fi rst Raman spec- Space, continued from page 1 There are twelve refurbished and new build on the achievements of the past to al Instrumentation Facility in association laboratories located on the ground fl oors realize wonderful opportunities for new with the Spec Lab and supported it for 26 of Bldg 6 and the new Green Building advances in basic research and applica- years. The center brought in resources and (6C). Each laboratory has been designed tions of spectroscopy for societal benefi t. attracted faculty members and has led to to meet the needs of an individual re- ongoing collaborative and multi-disciplin- search group and to enhance the multi- ary research among faculty from Chemis- disciplinary interactions among Spec Lab Spec Lab creates 3D try, Physics, Electrical Engineering, and students and staff members from different Chemical Engineering. Since 1985, the groups and departments. These labs oc- images of living cell cupy more than 8,000 square feet and pro- National Institutes of Health has support- Anne Trafton, MIT News Offi ce ed the Laser Biomedical Research Center vide facilities for wet chemistry and cell- biology preparations. The labs provide the (LBRC) in the Spec Lab. This national This article is reprinted from the August 12, 2007 resource for conducting cutting edge re- resources to: edition of Tech Talk with permission from the MIT search with lasers, light, and spectroscopy •Study quantum dots as probes for im- News Offi ce. has been notably successful in fostering aging biological micro-environments interdisciplinary innovative basic and ap- •Synthesize and characterize carbon A new imaging technique developed plied research in biology and medicine. nanotubes using Raman spectroscopy and in MIT’s Harrison Spectroscopy Labo- The diversity of researchers in the Spec other techniques ratory has allowed scientists to create Lab is an important aspect of its interdis- •Use ultra-fast two-dimensional infra- the fi rst 3D images of a living cell, us- ciplinary and collaborative work. Students red spectroscopy to probe molecular dy- ing a method similar to the x-ray CT and staff from many countries, back- namics in condensed phase systems scans doctors use to see inside the body. grounds, and races stimulate and enhance •Use photo-acoustic spectroscopy to The technique, described in a paper pub- the Spec Lab’s environment. By nurtur- study thin fi lms and materials lished in the Aug. 12 online edition of Na- ing diversity in a variety of ways, the Spec •Train high school students and teach- ture Methods, could be used to produce the Lab helps MIT to increase and support ers in thin-fi lm dynamics and other areas most detailed images yet of what goes on more diversity in the academic and sci- (Outreach Laboratory) inside a living cell without the help of fl u- entifi c and engineering professions. The •Study combustion dynamics orescent markers or other externally added Spec Lab will continue and expand its ef- •Study stochastic gene expression and contrast agents, said Michael Feld, Direc- forts in this area. related processes (biophysics laboratory tor of the George R. Harrison Spectrosco- and cell preparation facility) py Laboratory and a professor of physics. THE SPECTROGRAPH •Develop techniques and instruments “Accomplishing this has been my Published by the George R. Harrison Spec- for spectral diagnosis and imaging of dis- dream, and a goal of our laboratory, for troscopy Laboratory at the Massachusetts ease several years,” said Feld, senior au- Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA •Develop and apply instruments for thor of the paper. “For the fi rst time 02139-4307. Comments, suggestions, and phase and tomographic microscopy of live the functional activities of living cells inquiries can be directed to the editor. cells, small organisms, and tissues. Editors: Charles H. Holbrow and Geoff All the staff and faculty of the Spec Lab O’Donoghue are heartened by the forward looking deci- GEORGE R. HARRISON sion of the Institute to upgrade and mod- SPECTROSCOPY LABORATORY Director: Michael S. Feld ernize the Spectroscopy Laboratory. We Assoc. Director for Scientifi c Coordination: are grateful to President Hockfi eld, Pro- Robert W. Field vost Reif, and Associate Provost Claude Associate Director: Canizares for their support. Dean Robert Ramachandra R. Dasari Silbey’s leadership and support for the Spec Lab throughout the PDSI project is The Spectroscopy Laboratory houses two laser gratefully acknowledged. We especially research resource facilities. The MIT Laser Re- thank the numerous benefactors who con- search Facility provides shared facilities for core researchers to carry out basic laser research in the tributed to the PDSI project in general, physical sciences. The MIT Laser Biomedical and to the Spectroscopy Laboratory con- Research Center, a National Institutes of Health struction in particular. Our thanks go also Biomedical Research Technology Center, is a to the many staff members of the Depart- resource center for laser biomedical studies. The ment of Facilities, led by John Hawes, LBRC supports core and collaborative research who worked on this project. in technological research and development. In addition, it provides advanced laser instrumenta- Spec Lab professors and staff and stu- tion, along with technical and scientifi c support, dents - especially Luis Galindo and Geoff free of charge to university, industrial, and medi- O’Donoghue, Spec Lab engineers, and cal researchers for publishable research projects. Ramachandra Dasari, the lab’s Associate Call or write for further information or to receive Director - worked hard and long to design, Asst. Prof. Dr. Kamran Badizadegan, Postdoc- our mailings. organize and move into the new space. All toral Associate Wonshik Choi, and Prof. Michael (617) 253-4881 Feld display their new apparatus / Photo Donna http://web.mit.edu/spectroscopy these efforts will let us work together and Coveney Page 2 can be studied in their native state.” microscopy and other approaches.