Evolution of Microwave Spectroscopy at the National Bureau of Stansards (NBS) and the National Institute of Standards and Techology (NIST)

Published

September 28, 2012

Author(s)

David R. Lide, Richard D. Suenram, Donald R. Johnson, Francis J. Lovas

Abstract

This paper describes the beginning and evolution of microwave rotational spectroscopic research starting in 1954 at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) located at that time in Washington DC. David Lide was hired in 1954 to start this research originally employing Stark modulated waveguide septum cells. When Donald R. Johnson joined the lab in 1968, he developed parallel plate cells coupled with rf and DC discharge methods to study free radicals and transient species. In the mid 1980s Lovas and Suenram constructed a pulsed molecular beam Fourier Transform microwave (FTMW) spectrometer to study hydrogen bonded and van der Waals dimers and trimers. This article describes the types of molecules studied and the type molecular properties derived from these measurements as well as some of the instruments developed for these studies. The two major areas of application described are atmospheric chemistry and molecular radio astronomy.

Citation

Journal of Research (NIST JRES) - 117.016

Report Number

117.016

NIST Pub Series

Journal of Research (NIST JRES)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.117.016

Local Download

Keywords

atmospheric chemistry, dimmers, hydrogen bonding, internal rotation, microwave spectroscopy, radio astronomy, rotational spectrum, tunneling motions

Citation

Lide, D. , Suenram, R. , Johnson, D. and Lovas, F. (2012), Evolution of Microwave Spectroscopy at the National Bureau of Stansards (NBS) and the National Institute of Standards and Techology (NIST), Journal of Research (NIST JRES), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.117.016, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=911001 (Accessed October 8, 2025)