Professor Dr. Andrew Alexander

Biography

Andrew J Alexander is a Reader in Chemical Physics at the University of Edinburgh. His primary research interests include nucleation, nanobubbles, crystallization, crystalloluminescence, and reaction dynamics. He focuses on the interaction of light and matter, utilizing polarized laser light to stimulate chemical processes and study the resulting dynamics. His work on nucleation is of fundamental scientific interest as it is a key step in the production of high-value solid materials, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals. Recently, his group has successfully employed laser-induced nucleation to initiate the growth of crystals from bubbles in solutions and melts. They have measured the emission spectra of light from nascent sodium chloride crystals, a phenomenon known as crystalloluminescence. The results from these experiments contribute to a better understanding of the structure of supersaturated solutions and the dynamics of nucleation, with implications for controlling crystallization processes in the industry.

Research Interests