Frank Zimmermann

 

Directory information

  Position: Associate Professor
  Research groups: Condensed Matter Experiment
Experimental Surface Science
  Email address: fmz"at"physics.rutgers.edu
  Telephone: (732) 445-3153
(732) 445-4343 (fax)
  Office: NPL 204
  Mailing address: Frank Zimmermann
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
136 Frelinghuysen Road
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8019 USA

Research Activities

Our research in experimental surface physics is directed at obtaining a detailed understanding of the fundamental mechanisms involved in dynamical surface processes, in particular laser-induced thermal and photochemical surface processes. We seek to understand the excitation mechanisms and the dynamics of laser-induced desorption, dissociation, and reaction of adsorbed molecules. A powerful way to gain insight into the dynamics uses quantum state resolved, laser spectroscopic detection of desorbed products to determine their final state distributions in the translational, rotational, vibrational, and electronic degrees of freedom. In addition, we are using ultra-short ("femtosecond") laser pulses to probe surface dynamics in real time.