Tennessee Tech University’s Department of Chemistry announced on Mar. 25 the addition of a custom-built molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectrometer, known as an L-FTMW, to its research facilities.
The new instrument is one of only a few in the world and is expected to enhance both research and educational opportunities at the university. Faculty say it will allow Tennessee Tech to advance work in fields such as physical chemistry, astrochemistry, atmospheric science, and energy research.
“This instrument elevates Tennessee Tech’s research profile in a meaningful way,” said Ranil Gurusinghe, assistant professor of chemistry. “Labs like this are typically found at major research universities and national laboratories.” Gurusinghe said that Tennessee Tech may now have the only molecular beam FTMW spectroscopy lab in Tennessee and possibly the first ever built in the state. “That distinction represents a significant expansion of the university’s research capabilities,” he said. “It positions Tech to advance work in areas like physical chemistry, astrochemistry, atmospheric science and energy research.”
The L-FTMW spectrometer enables researchers to study molecules by measuring how they interact with microwave radiation. “In simple terms, it lets us ‘listen’ to molecules as they rotate,” Gurusinghe explained. “Each molecule produces a unique signal, almost like a fingerprint, that tells us about its structure and properties.” The device is already being used in classrooms so students can gain practical experience with advanced technology. “Opportunities of this kind are rarely available at the undergraduate level at most institutions,” Gurusinghe said.
Michael Aikens, acting vice president for research and economic development at Tennessee Tech University, said the acquisition marks an important milestone for campus-wide scientific discovery efforts: “This instrument significantly strengthens Tennessee Tech’s research capabilities that expand the scope, depth and impact of discovery across multiple scientific disciplines,” Aikens said. He added that hands-on experience with sophisticated equipment prepares students for careers requiring technical skills: “By working hands‑on with sophisticated instrumentation, students are developing the technical skills, problem‑solving abilities, and outcomes that prepare them for high‑impact careers.”
The spectrometer was designed and built on campus by graduate and undergraduate students from various departments working alongside faculty members—a process described by Gurusinghe as “a truly interdisciplinary effort in which students were not simply users of the instrument but builders and innovators.” Details about their work were recently published in Review of Scientific Instruments.
