Femtochemistry: 1999 Nobel Prize Symposium

Approximately fifteen years ago the AFOSR recognized the potential of using ultrafast lasers to study chemical reactions and funded Professor Zewail in his endeavor to unravel the essential chemical processes that occur during chemical reactions. In 1999, Professor Ahmed H. Zewail received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of Femtochemistry. At the 220 ACS National Meeting in Washington a symposium has been organized to honor Professor Zewails accomplishments with two goals. The first one is to honor Professor Zewail. The second is to get a cross section of the present state of research in the field of Femtochemistry. The open interchange of ideas is very valuable in this highly technical scientific endeavor. AFOSR funds were requested to defray the cost of travel for the attending speakers. The conference included a number of poster presentations, scientific talks and a plenary talk by Professor Zewail.