Research Group:
Infrared spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation source
Contact:
| Hidekazu Okamura |
| Tokushima University, 2-1 Minamijyousanjima-cho,Tokushima 770-8506,JAPAN |
| Telephone: +81-88-656-9444 |
| ho (at) tokushima-u.ac.jp |
Research Area:
Measurements
Beamline:
BL43IR
Overview of Research Group, Goals and Purposes:
The two main goals of this research group are the following.
- Further expansion and development of research using infrared synchrotron radiation
- Collaboration with research using various light sources in the infrared and terahertz regions
SPring-8's infrared beamline BL43IR covers far-infrared to near-infrared wavenumbers of 100 to 10000 cm-1 (wavelengths 1-100 μm) and is a conventional infrared light source (from high temperature objects) in this spectral region. It has a brightness that is more than two orders of magnitude higher than that of blackbody radiation. Microinfrared spectroscopy that takes advantage of this high brightness and infrared spectroscopy experiments in extreme environments such as high voltage and strong magnetic fields are being conducted. It has a wide range of applications such as condensed matter physics, chemistry, biology, materials science, archeology, and medicine. We are also developing advanced measurements such as infrared near-field microspectroscopy that combines the high brightness of infrared synchrotron radiation and near-field optics, and infrared magnetic circular dichroism experiments using a superconducting magnet. Through the dissemination activities that have been carried out in the past based on this group, the use of BL43IR has expanded and many results have been produced. In the 5th period, research on the utilization of infrared synchrotron radiation for new subjects such as infrared microspectroscopy of nanomaterials in a humidity-controlled environment has progressed. Based on the above, we will further develop research subjects that take advantage of infrared synchrotron radiation in the 6th period as well. In addition, we will strengthen cooperation with domestic infrared synchrotron radiation utilization facilities and infrared FEL utilization facilities and promote cross-sectional use.
In addition, the next-generation low emittance ring, which is being studied not only at SPring-8 but also at many synchrotron radiation facilities around the world, is expected to have a significant impact on the use of the infrared region because the light capture angle is limited. Regarding this, this research group has tried to exchange and disseminate information at domestic and international conferences such as WIRMS (International Wrokshop on Infrared Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Accelerator Based Sources) and the Japanese Society for Synchrotron Radiation. In the 5th term, the above WIRMS was scheduled to be held in Japan in 2021 for the first time in 14 years, but it was postponed to September 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the infrared to terahertz region, various high-intensity and high-intensity light sources such as free electron lasers and various tabletop lasers are used in addition to synchrotron radiation. Therefore, this research group actively exchanges information with researchers who develop and use these light sources. As part of this, in the 5th term, we participated in the KU-FEL user meeting and had discussions with researchers who used infrared FEL, which is an accelerator light source complementary to synchrotron radiation. Similar activities will be continued in the 6th term, and WIRMS 2022 will be held in Hiroshima in September 2022, with Ikemoto, the deputy representative of this study group, as the organizing committee chair. This will dramatically promote global information exchange in the field, which had been stagnant due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and promote discussions and joint research with various researchers inside and outside the country.