Chemical Engineer

An optimal way to produce terahertz (THz) radiation is by optical rectification, which involves sending femtosecond laser pulses through an organic nonlinear crystal. We aim to develop novel organic THz generating crystals that can be pumped with 800 nm light (most common laser pulse frequency). Vanillylideneaniline (VAN) has recently been characterized as a nonlinear optical material and we will be testing it for THz generation efficiency. We hypothesize that a larger hyperpolarizability of the constituent molecules that make up the organic crystal is directly linked to the THz generation efficiency. We use Gaussian calculations to design VAN derivatives with higher hyperpolarizabilities. We then synthesize VAN and the most promising derivatives, by newly developed methods using various solvents to optimize crystallization, to test their THz generation capabilities and efficiencies.

Presented by Sevanna Ahern & Emmalee McMurray
31st Annual Student Research Conference
Chemistry & Biochemistry Division

March 4, 2017

Co-Authors: Larry Heki, Brittany England, Gabriel Valdivia Berroeta, Jeremy Johnson, David Michaelis
Faculty Advisors: Jeremy Johnson, David Michaelis

From a very young age, I began using my family's platform to gain real-world business experience under the umbrella of our international heavy equipment rental and manufacturing company. As part of my role, I was sent to Austin, TX to attend multiple executive training courses presented by Keith Cunningham, a seasoned entrepreneur regarded as one of the world's foremost authorities on business mastery. These courses, namely, The 4-Day MBA, How to Buy (or Exit) a Business, and Plan or Get Slaughtered, skyrocketed my understanding of strategic planning and leadership. I then applied what I learned to create training criteria for the company’s sales team. I also had the privilege to represent the family business by presenting company financial and business updates for the company credit rating review at S&P and Moody’s in New York.