BILILIGN LEADS PHYSICS RESEARCH

GREENSBORO - Dr. Solomon Bililign of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is examining issues of importance to chemical physics, in an effort to encourage more minority students to pursue careers in physics research.

Funded $123,633 by the National Science Foundation, Bililign, chairperson of A&T's Department of Physics, leads a project which examines laser-induced chemical reaction dynamics and energy transfer collisions between alkali metal atoms and several chemical elements and hydrocarbons.

According to Bililign, the study will focus on lithium because, among alkali metals, it is found in conjunction with many organic molecules and is used as a synthetic reagent in organic and organometallic chemistry. Furthermore, chemical activation by metals is important in catalysis and other applications.

Because lithium hydride is one of the original elements found in quasars and other astronomical objects, Bililign believes that the study of these systems may help scientists better understand astrophysical problems.

"Because it addresses such an important area of chemical physics, we are using this project as a basis for research involving both our undergraduate and graduate students," said Bililign. "We hope that this will cause them to embrace physics and further their education to the Ph.D. level. Likewise, we hope that the project will further understanding of these issues among chemical physicists."

For more information, please contact Dr. Solomon Bililign, NC A&T State University, (336) 334-7646.

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