Dr. Wu is a spectroscopist. His primary research interest is high resolution molecular spectroscopy from the extreme ultraviolet throughout the infrared region - especially as applied to small molecules of theoretical and astrophysical interest. Dr. Wu's specific interests include the following: (1) studies of atomic and molecular spectroscopy, photodissociation mechanisms and dynamics involving transitions to superexcited states and multiply charged states; (2) temperature dependent (140-900 K) absolute photoabsorption cross section measurements of molecules and measurements of absolute fluorescence cross sections produced through photoexcitation, photodissociation, and photoionization of molecules; (3) application of laboratory cross section data to studies of planetary atmospheres including identification of atmospheric species and determination of their abundances and mixing ratios; (4) study of EUV-VUV photon-induced chemical reactions and sputtering processes in molecular ice systems and clathrate hydrates to the understanding of mass and chemical evolutions in a number of astronomical environments, e.g., comets at large heliocentric distances, asteroids, icy planetary satellites and rings, and in the interstellar medium; and (5) investigation of nonlinear laser spectroscopy of alkali metal vapors and generation of VUV laser frequency.
