About
Ruaridh Forbes is an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Davis, Department of Chemistry. He leads the Forbes lab, which focuses on ultrafast laser sources to study photochemical reaction dynamics on femtosecond timescales. His research explores nuclear structures far from equilibrium and electronic energy flow in molecules during reactions, aiming to control chemical and biological processes. The lab conducts experiments at global X-ray light sources and tabletop setups. Forbes has held roles at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory since 2020, including Lead Scientist (2024), Staff Scientist (2022–2023), and Associate Staff Scientist (2021–2022). He earned a Ph.D. in Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics from University College London (2018) and a M.S. in Chemical Physics from the University of Edinburgh (2014).
Research Interests:
- Ultrafast laser spectroscopy
- Femtosecond/X-ray scattering techniques
- Photochemical reaction dynamics
- Electronic energy transfer mechanisms
- Molecular imaging via Coulomb explosion and covariance analysis
- Control of chemical reactions through light-matter interactions
Publications: His recent work includes studies on X-ray-induced electron rearrangement, time-resolved Auger spectroscopy, and ultrafast electron diffraction imaging. These publications emphasize multi-channel dynamics analysis and novel laser-based methodologies.
Labs/Teams: The Forbes Lab collaborates with global institutions like SLAC and utilizes cutting-edge X-ray facilities to advance real-time molecular imaging.
