{"id":{"repo_id":"freiburg-diss","oai_identifier":"oai:freidok.uni-freiburg.de:1168"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/freiburg-diss/oai:freidok.uni-freiburg.de:1168","repository":{"repo_id":"freiburg-diss","name":"University of Freiburg","base_url":"https://freidok.uni-freiburg.de/oai/oai2.php"},"display":{"title":"Modern spectroscopy on biological molecules : structure and bonding investigated by THz time-domain and transient phase-grating spectroscopy","abstract":"Since the first freely propagating THz pulses have been used to conduct spectroscopic investigations in the far-IR, THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) has evolved into a versatile tool for the study of a variety of different sample materials. However its application to the investigation of biological molecules in this highly interesting spectral regime started only
recently, and the work presented in this thesis represents one of the first investigations along this line.
We present characteristic THz spectra of individual biomolecular systems in the crystalline and amorphous phase. In particular the correlation between the observed low-frequency modes and molecular structure and association was investigated. Our results show that the mode structure in the THz region represents a unique fingerprint for the molecular structure and conformation, e.g. allowing to distinguish related compounds, to discriminate between
different isomers and to even observe structural phase-transitions. Potential applications in chemical recognition and drug screening are feasible.
As a complementary approach we introduce a Transient phase-grating (TPG) spectroscopy as a novel spectroscopic technique capable of measuring volume changes of biomolecules. Its unique sensitivity to changes in the molecules' structure combined with a potential time-resolution from the femto- to the milli-second range make it a powerful technique capable of giving a complete history of relevant motions in proteins.
Both techniques have now evolved to invaluable tools in modern spectroscopy. Their application to the investigation of biomolecules will significantly contribute to the solution of diverse problems in biological research.","abstract_html":"Since the first freely propagating THz pulses have been used to conduct spectroscopic investigations in the far-IR, THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) has evolved into a versatile tool for the study of a variety of different sample materials. However its application to the investigation of biological molecules in this highly interesting spectral regime started only <br>recently, and the work presented in this thesis represents one of the first investigations along this line. <br> <br>We present characteristic THz spectra of individual biomolecular systems in the crystalline and amorphous phase. In particular the correlation between the observed low-frequency modes and molecular structure and association was investigated. Our results show that the mode structure in the THz region represents a unique fingerprint for the molecular structure and conformation, e.g. allowing to distinguish related compounds, to discriminate between <br>different isomers and to even observe structural phase-transitions. Potential applications in chemical recognition and drug screening are feasible. <br> <br>As a complementary approach we introduce a Transient phase-grating (TPG) spectroscopy as a novel spectroscopic technique capable of measuring volume changes of biomolecules. Its unique sensitivity to changes in the molecules' structure combined with a potential time-resolution from the femto- to the milli-second range make it a powerful technique capable of giving a complete history of relevant motions in proteins. <br> <br>Both techniques have now evolved to invaluable tools in modern spectroscopy. Their application to the investigation of biomolecules will significantly contribute to the solution of diverse problems in biological research.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Walther, Markus"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Helm, Hanspeter"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":null,"date_issued":"","date_published":null,"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:22:03Z","subjects":["Terahertz-timedomain-spectroscopy","Biomoleküle","Strukturuntersuchung","biomolecules","structure determination"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://freidok.uni-freiburg.de/data/1168","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"source_url"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Helm, Hanspeter"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Walther, Markus"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["DoctoralThesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Terahertz-timedomain-spectroscopy","Biomoleküle","Strukturuntersuchung","biomolecules","structure determination"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Since the first freely propagating THz pulses have been used to conduct spectroscopic investigations in the far-IR, THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) has evolved into a versatile tool for the study of a variety of different sample materials. However its application to the investigation of biological molecules in this highly interesting spectral regime started only
recently, and the work presented in this thesis represents one of the first investigations along this line.
We present characteristic THz spectra of individual biomolecular systems in the crystalline and amorphous phase. In particular the correlation between the observed low-frequency modes and molecular structure and association was investigated. Our results show that the mode structure in the THz region represents a unique fingerprint for the molecular structure and conformation, e.g. allowing to distinguish related compounds, to discriminate between
different isomers and to even observe structural phase-transitions. Potential applications in chemical recognition and drug screening are feasible.
As a complementary approach we introduce a Transient phase-grating (TPG) spectroscopy as a novel spectroscopic technique capable of measuring volume changes of biomolecules. Its unique sensitivity to changes in the molecules' structure combined with a potential time-resolution from the femto- to the milli-second range make it a powerful technique capable of giving a complete history of relevant motions in proteins.
Both techniques have now evolved to invaluable tools in modern spectroscopy. Their application to the investigation of biomolecules will significantly contribute to the solution of diverse problems in biological research.","Seit der Benutzung frei propagierender THz (Terahertz) Pulse zur spektroskopischen Untersuchung im fernen Infrarot, hat sich die „THz time-domain Spectroscopy“ (THz-TDS) zu einem vielseitigen Werkzeug zur Charakterisierung verschiedenster Materialien entwickelt. Jedoch wird diese Technik erst seit kurzem zur Untersuchung biologischer Moleküle in diesem höchst interessanten Spektralbereich genutzt. Diese Arbeit stellt hierbei eine der ersten Untersuchungen in diesem Bereich dar.
Wir präsentieren charakteristische THz-Spektren verschiedener biomolekularer Systeme in kristalliner und amorpher Phase. Dabei wurde insbesondere die Korrelation zwischen den beobachteten niederfrequenten Schwingungsmoden und der molekularen Struktur und Anordnung untersucht. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass der THz Bereich einen eindeutigen „Fingerabdruck“ der molekularen Struktur liefert, und damit beispielsweise ermöglicht, ähnliche Substanzen, wie etwa Isomere, zu unterscheiden oder etwa strukturelle Phasenübergänge zu beobachten. Potentielle Anwendungen zur chemischen Erkennung verschiedener Substanzen sind denkbar.
Als ein komplementäres Verfahren wird die „Transiente Phasen-Gitter Spektroskopie“ (TPG) vorgestellt. Diese neuartige Technologie ermöglicht die Beobachtung kleinster Volumenänderungen biologischer Moleküle. Die einzigartige Empfindlichkeit auf Änderungen der molekularen Struktur und potentiellen Zeitauflösungen vom Femto- bis in den Millisekunden Bereich ermöglichen die zeitliche Beobachtung biologischer Prozesse in Proteinen.
Beide Technologien bereichern die moderne Spektroskopie und werden maßgeblich zum Verständnis biologisch relevanter Prozesse beitragen."]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Modern spectroscopy on biological molecules : structure and bonding investigated by THz time-domain and transient phase-grating spectroscopy","Moderne Spektroskopie biologischer Moleküle : Struktur und Bindungen untersucht mit Hilfe der THz time-domain und transienten Phasen-Gitter Spektroskopie"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Helm, Hanspeter"],"dc:creator":["Walther, Markus"],"dc:description.abstract":["Since the first freely propagating THz pulses have been used to conduct spectroscopic investigations in the far-IR, THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) has evolved into a versatile tool for the study of a variety of different sample materials. However its application to the investigation of biological molecules in this highly interesting spectral regime started only
recently, and the work presented in this thesis represents one of the first investigations along this line.
We present characteristic THz spectra of individual biomolecular systems in the crystalline and amorphous phase. In particular the correlation between the observed low-frequency modes and molecular structure and association was investigated. Our results show that the mode structure in the THz region represents a unique fingerprint for the molecular structure and conformation, e.g. allowing to distinguish related compounds, to discriminate between
different isomers and to even observe structural phase-transitions. Potential applications in chemical recognition and drug screening are feasible.
As a complementary approach we introduce a Transient phase-grating (TPG) spectroscopy as a novel spectroscopic technique capable of measuring volume changes of biomolecules. Its unique sensitivity to changes in the molecules' structure combined with a potential time-resolution from the femto- to the milli-second range make it a powerful technique capable of giving a complete history of relevant motions in proteins.
Both techniques have now evolved to invaluable tools in modern spectroscopy. Their application to the investigation of biomolecules will significantly contribute to the solution of diverse problems in biological research.","Seit der Benutzung frei propagierender THz (Terahertz) Pulse zur spektroskopischen Untersuchung im fernen Infrarot, hat sich die „THz time-domain Spectroscopy“ (THz-TDS) zu einem vielseitigen Werkzeug zur Charakterisierung verschiedenster Materialien entwickelt. Jedoch wird diese Technik erst seit kurzem zur Untersuchung biologischer Moleküle in diesem höchst interessanten Spektralbereich genutzt. Diese Arbeit stellt hierbei eine der ersten Untersuchungen in diesem Bereich dar.
Wir präsentieren charakteristische THz-Spektren verschiedener biomolekularer Systeme in kristalliner und amorpher Phase. Dabei wurde insbesondere die Korrelation zwischen den beobachteten niederfrequenten Schwingungsmoden und der molekularen Struktur und Anordnung untersucht. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass der THz Bereich einen eindeutigen „Fingerabdruck“ der molekularen Struktur liefert, und damit beispielsweise ermöglicht, ähnliche Substanzen, wie etwa Isomere, zu unterscheiden oder etwa strukturelle Phasenübergänge zu beobachten. Potentielle Anwendungen zur chemischen Erkennung verschiedener Substanzen sind denkbar.
Als ein komplementäres Verfahren wird die „Transiente Phasen-Gitter Spektroskopie“ (TPG) vorgestellt. Diese neuartige Technologie ermöglicht die Beobachtung kleinster Volumenänderungen biologischer Moleküle. Die einzigartige Empfindlichkeit auf Änderungen der molekularen Struktur und potentiellen Zeitauflösungen vom Femto- bis in den Millisekunden Bereich ermöglichen die zeitliche Beobachtung biologischer Prozesse in Proteinen.
Beide Technologien bereichern die moderne Spektroskopie und werden maßgeblich zum Verständnis biologisch relevanter Prozesse beitragen."],"dc:format.medium":["application/pdf"],"dc:subject":["Terahertz-timedomain-spectroscopy","Biomoleküle","Strukturuntersuchung","biomolecules","structure determination"],"dc:title":["Modern spectroscopy on biological molecules : structure and bonding investigated by THz time-domain and transient phase-grating spectroscopy","Moderne Spektroskopie biologischer Moleküle : Struktur und Bindungen untersucht mit Hilfe der THz time-domain und transienten Phasen-Gitter Spektroskopie"],"dc:type":["DoctoralThesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:22:03Z"}