Hartmut G. Hedderich

Integrated nonlinear optical imaging microscope for on-axis crystal detection and centering at a synchrotron beamline

Nonlinear optical (NLO) instrumentation has been integrated with synchrotron X-ray diffraction for combined single-platform analysis, examining the viability of NLO microscopy as an alternative to the conventional X-ray raster scan for the purposes of sample centering. Second-harmonic generation microscopy and two-photon excited ultraviolet fluorescence microscopy were evaluated for crystal detection, and assessed by X-ray raster scanning.

Double-resonance spectroscopy of the high Rydberg states of HCO. III. Multiple pathways in the vibrational autoionization of the bending overtone

Ultraviolet first-photon absorption selects individual rotational levels in the Renner–Teller split (020) vibronic band system in the 3pπ 2Π Rydberg state of HCO. These gateway states serve as originating levels for vertical second-photon transitions to vibrationally autoionizing Rydberg series converging to individual rotational levels associated with the (0200) and (0220) states of HCO+. Linewidths of assigned series convey information on autoionization dynamics. Resonances throughout the (020) autoionization spectrum match sharp profiles seen earlier for series converging to HCO+(010). Linewidths for autoionization via relaxation both of the bending fundamental and its overtone are measurably narrower than resonances built on CO stretch, (001), which indicates that mode-selectivity inhibiting bending autoionization relative to stretch extends to the bending overtone. Features in the (020) spectrum that fall below the threshold energy for decay by autoionization to the (010) continuum appear with dimini...

Kinetic Trapping of Metastable Amino Acid Polymorphs

Second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy measurements indicate that inkjet-printed racemic solutions of amino acids can produce nanocrystals trapped in metastable polymorph forms upon rapid solvent evaporation. Polymorphism impacts the composition, distribution, and physico-kinetic properties of organic solids, with energetic arguments favoring the most stable polymorph. In this study, unfavored noncentrosymmetric crystal forms were observed by SHG microscopy. Polarization-dependent SHG measurement and synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction analysis of individual printed drops are consistent with formation of homochiral crystal production. Fundamentally, these results provide evidence supporting the ubiquity of Ostwald’s Rule of Stages, describing the hypothesized transitioning of crystals between metastable polymorphic forms in the early stages of crystal formation. Practically, the presence of homochiral metastable forms has implications on chiral resolution and on solid form preparations relying on rapid solvent evaporation.

Double-resonance spectroscopy of the high Rydberg states of HCO. II. Mode specificity in the dynamics of vibrational autoionization via CO stretch versus bend

We report ionization-detected absorption spectra of vibrationally autoionizing high Rydberg states of formyl radical. Steps of uv–visible double resonance with selected rovibrational levels of the 3pπ 2Π Rydberg state of HCO promote Franck–Condon vertical transitions that isolate series converging to (010) (bend) and (001) (CO stretch) excited states of HCO+. Final state energies in these spectra exceed the threshold for production of the cation ground state. Intensities and linewidths of observed resonances convey information on the dynamics of electron ejection driven by the vibronic relaxation of specific normal modes of the linear triatomic core. Many resonances in (010) and (001) autoionization spectra exhibit widths that approach the resolution of our laser. Other resonances in series converging to both limits are noticeably broadened, with linewidths that display an inverse cubic dependence on principal quantum number. Among these broader resonances, those in series that decay by relaxation of CO s...

Double-resonance spectroscopy of the high Rydberg states of HCO. V. Rovibronic interactions and l-uncoupling in the (010) manifold

We report the ionization-detected absorption spectra of autoionizing Rydberg states converging to the (010) vibrational level of HCO+. Sharp second-photon resonances appear in transitions from first-photon-prepared originating states that have total angular momentum (less-spin) from N′=0 to 5, selected from the Σ+ and Σ− components of the (010) band of the 3pπ2Π Rydberg state. We systematically compare spectra in order to characterize observed resonances in terms of the good total angular momentum quantum number, N. Rydberg analysis establishes the convergence of series to detailed cation-core rotational quantum numbers, N+. Observed series are found to fit well with simulations employing a limited set of constant quantum defects (δ=1.062, 0.794, 0.606, 0.253, 0.015, 0.002, −0.027 and −0.076). The strengths of observed transitions as a function of initial and final total angular momentum provide a purely experimental indication of the appropriate assignment of the approximately good orbital angular moment...

State–to–state dynamics in the high Rydberg states of polyatomic molecules

Rydberg states in polyatomic molecules exhibit dynamics that bear on issues of longstanding importance for theory. Coupling is made complicated, however, by the presence of many rovibrational degrees of freedom and the existence of multiple pathways for intramolecular relaxation. In work on vibrationally autoionizing states of HCO and NO2, we have applied multiple resonance excitation strategies to isolate single rovibrational Rydberg–Rydberg transitions, the positions, lineshapes and intensities of which reflect coupling strengths for state–detailed relaxation processes.

An improved set of rotational constants for HF

Another spectrum was found containing additional pure rotational HF transitions. From this new set of pure rotational transitions the rotational constants for the ground vibrational level of HF were calculated more accurately. In addition, rotational constants for the first and second vibrational levels were obtained

Discrete retardance second harmonic generation ellipsometry

A new instrument was constructed to perform discrete retardance nonlinear optical ellipsometry (DR-NOE). The focus of the design was to perform second harmonic generation NOE while maximizing sample and application flexibility and minimizing data acquisition time. The discrete retardance configuration results in relatively simple computational algorithms for performing nonlinear optical ellipsometric analysis. NOE analysis of a disperse red 19 monolayer yielded results that were consistent with previously reported values for the same surface system, but with significantly reduced acquisition times.

Photoionization spectrum of the B2A′ state of HCO

Abstract Formyl radicals, excited to specific rovibrational levels of the strongly bent B 2 A ′ state are photoionized to form vibrationally excited states of the linear cation by the absorption of a tunable pulse of ultraviolet light from a second laser. Strong and essentially continuous photoionization spectra, which appear at intervals lying 7000 and 12 000 cm−1 above the adiabatic threshold, establish that formyl radicals can be efficiently ionized with a large geometry change at both energies. Non-Franck–Condon intensities suggest multiquantum pathways for vibrational autoionization.

Second Harmonic Generation Guided Raman Spectroscopy for Sensitive Detection of Polymorph Transitions

Second harmonic generation (SHG) was integrated with Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of pharmaceutical materials. Particulate formulations of clopidogrel bisulfate were prepared in two crystal forms (Form I and Form II). Image analysis approaches enable automated identification of particles by bright field imaging, followed by classification by SHG. Quantitative SHG microscopy enabled discrimination of crystal form on a per particle basis with 99.95% confidence in a total measurement time of ∼10 ms per particle. Complementary measurements by Raman and synchrotron XRD are in excellent agreement with the classifications made by SHG, with measurement times of ∼1 min and several seconds per particle, respectively. Coupling these capabilities with at-line monitoring may enable real-time feedback for reaction monitoring during pharmaceutical production to favor the more bioavailable but metastable Form I with limits of detection in the ppm regime.