John R. Cable

John R. Cable, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Interim Chair
510 Physical Sciences Laboratory Building
419.372.8439
cable@bgsu.edu

Biographical Facts:

Joined the faculty in 1989
Ph.D., Cornell University (1986)
M.S., University of California – Riverside (1980)
B.S., University of California – Riverside (1979)

Research Interests:

Our research is focused on determining the structures of conformationally flexible molecules and the effect that solvation and hydrogen bonding has on these structures. To carry out these investigations we make use of vibrationally resolved electronic spectroscopy in the ultracold environment of a supersonic jet expansion. Electronic spectroscopy permits structural information to be obtained on both ground and excited electronic states through analysis of the resolved vibrational structure that appears under these conditions.

We are currently investigating a number of phenyl substituted amines and amides. These types of molecules form strong hydrogen bonds with a variety of partners, including water, and have the potential to act as both donors and acceptors. By studying hydrogen bonded clusters at high spectral resolution it is possible to determine the mode of binding between the solute and solvent as well as to characterize the structural perturbations that arise from the strong interaction.

Selected Publications:

“Conformations of Isolated Model Dipeptides in Supersonic Jet Expansions”, Cable, J. R.; Sharp, J. C.; Miller, N. J. Phys. Chem A, submitted.

“The infrared spectroscopy of H-bonded bridges stretched across the cis-amide group:  II.  Ammonia and mixed ammonia/water bridges”, Fedorov, A. V.; Cable, J. R.; Carney, J. R.; Zwier, T. S. J. Phys. Chem A 2001, 105, 8162.

“The infrared spectroscopy of H-bonded bridges stretched across the cis-amide group:  I.  Water bridges”, Carney, J. R.; Fedorov, A. V.; Cable, J. R.; Zwier, T. S. J. Phys. Chem A 2001, 105, 3487.

“Spectroscopy of hydrogen-bonded formanilide clusters in a supersonic jet:  Solvation of a model trans amide”, Fedorov, A. V.; Cable, J. R. J. Phys. Chem. A 2000, 104, 4943.