Robert L. Brooks

Dr. Robert L. Brooks, Professor Emeritus
Professor Emeritus
Email: 
rbrooks@uoguelph.ca
Phone number: 
519-824-4120 x53994
Office: 
MacN 327

Accelerator based atomic, molecular and optical (AMO) physics studying simple cryogenic gases, cryogenic films, liquid helium, and doped solids; laboratory astrophysics using CRDS, laser studies of doped rare-earth crystals.

Present Research and Outreach Activities


I retired in 2008 and am no longer advising graduate students.  My activities with the Guelph Observatory are ongoing. The transit of Venus in 2012 was broadcast to a large lecture hall at the university and to the Civic Museum in downtown Guelph.  It drew about 500 participants many of whom also looked at the sun through a filtered Questar telescope. Each spring I have been giving two lectures to high school students as part of Guelph Interaction, and, in some years, a lecture and star party for Guelph Alumni.  I taught two courses in fall 2009 and a two week special topics module in February 2010, one course in fall 2011 and one in fall 2013.  My long awaited (by me at least!) textbook, The Fundamentals of Atomic and Molecular Physics, was published by Springer in 2013.

  1. Fundamentals of Atomic and Molecular Physics, Robert L. Brooks, Springer, New York 2013.
  2. Calibration method using a single retarder to simultaneously measure polarization and fully characterize a polarimeter over a broad range of wavelengths, M.J. Romerein, J.N. Phillipson, R.L. Brooks and R.C. Shiell, Appl.Opt. 50, 5382 2011).
  3. CRDS study of autoionizing Rydberg states of argon in a microwave discharge, B.M. van der Ende, C. Winslade, R.L. Brooks, R.H. deLaat and N.P.C. Westwood, Can.J.Phys. 87, 575-581 (2009).
  4. Resource Comparison of Canadian Physics Departments, Robert L. Brooks, Phys.inCan. 64, 145-148 (2008).
  5. Measurement of the 4F3/2 and 2H(2)9/2 manifold lifetime in Nd3+:Y3Al5O12 and Nd3+:LaF3, B.M. van der Ende, R.L. Brooks, H.F. Tiedje, and H.K. Haugen, J.Lumin. 124, 311-315 (2007).
  6. Measurement of the 4F5/2 and 2H(2)9/2 manifold lifetime in Nd3+:YLiF4, B.M. van der Ende, R.L. Brooks, H.F. Tiedje, Hong Sun, and H.K. Haugen, J.Lumin. 117, 13-19 (2006)
  7. Carbon-chain Oxides in Proton-irradiated CO Ice Films, Alexandre Trottier and Robert L. Brooks,  Astrophys.J. 612, 1214-1221 (2004).
  8. The Sky Behind Gretzky, Robert L. Brooks, feature article JRASC, 98, 147-148 (2004).
  9. The Spectrum of Light Pollution over Guelph, Monique Ferguson and Robert L. Brooks, JRASC 98, 159-161 (2004).
  10. Photoionization of Isoelectronic Ions: Mg+ and Al2+, A. Aguilar, J.B. West, R.A. Phaneuf, R.L. Brooks, F. Folkmann, H. Kjeldsen, J.D. Bosek, A.S. Schlachter and C. Cisneros, Phys. Rev. A. 67, 012701 (2003).
  11. Comparison of CRDS to ICL-PAS and Phase Shift CRDS Spectroscopies for the Absolute Intensities of C-H (ΔvC-H = 6) Overtone Absorptions, S. DeMille, R.H. deLaat, R.M. Tanner, R.L. Brooks, and N.P.C. Westwood . Chem.Phys.Lett. 366, 383-389 (2002).           
  12. Absolute, State-selective Measurements of the Photoionization Cross Sections of N+ and O+ Ions. Kjeldsen, B. Kristensen, R.L. Brooks, F. Folkmann, H. Knudsen and T.  Andersen.  Astro.J.Supp.Ser. 138, 219-227 (2002).
  13. Cavity Ring-down Spectroscopy of Transient O2-O2  Dimers, H.F. Tiedje, S. DeMille, L. MacArthur, and R.L. Brooks, Can. J. Phys. 79, 773-781 (2001).
  14. Photoionization of Singly and Doubly Charged Aluminum Ions in the Extreme Ultra-violet: Absolute Cross-sections and Resonance Structures, J.B. West, T. Andersen, R.L. Brooks, F. Folkmann, H.Kjeldsen and H. Knudsen, Phys.Rev.A. 63, 052719-1to9 (2001).
  15. Electric-dipole Forbidden Decay Rate in the Ground Configuration of Ne2+ ions Measured at a Heavy-ion Storage Ring, E. Träbert, A. Wolf, X. Tordoir, E.H. Pinnington, E.J. Knystautas, G. Gwinner, A.G. Calamai and R.L. Brooks, Can.J.Phys. 79, 145-151 (2001).
  16. Studies of Two-photon Excitation and Vacuum Ultraviolet Fluorescence in Nd:YLF, P.W. Dooley, J. Thøgersen, J.D. Gill, H.K. Haugen and R.L. Brooks,  Opt.Comm. 183, 451-459 (2000).
  17. Spectra of Liquid Helium and Hydrogen-doped Liquid Helium, A. Trottier, A.I. Jirasek, H.F. Tiedje and R.L. Brooks, Phys.Rev.A61, 052504-1to8 (2000).
  18. High Resolution Spectroscopy of the Iridium and Platinum Negative Ions, R.C. Bilodeau, M. Scheer, H.K. Haugen and R.L. Brooks, Phys.Rev.A, 61, 012505 (2000).
  19. Post-irradiation flashes and continuous emission from solid deuterium, J.A. Forrest and R.L. Brooks, Phys.Rev.B 55, 906-914 (1997).
  20. Infrared Emission Spectra from Cryogenic Proton-irradiated Helium Gas, D.W. Tokaryk, G.R. Wagner, R.L. Brooks and J.L. Hunt, J. Chem. Phys. 103, 10439-10444 (1995).
  21. Atoms in Irradiated Solid Deuterium: Charge-induced Spectra,  R.L. Brooks, J.A. Forrest and J.L. Hunt, from Collision- and Interaction-Induced Spectroscopy, eds. G.C. Tabisz and M.N. Neuman (Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1995).
  22. Spontaneous Optical Flashes in Proton-irradiated Solid Deuterium, J.A. Forrest, R.L. Brooks and J.L. Hunt, Phys. Rev. B 50, 9573-9576 (1994).
  23. Charge-induced Effects in the Spectra of Mixtures of Solid H2, D2 and HD, J.J. Miller, R.L. Brooks and J.L. Hunt, Can. J. Phys. 71, 501-506 (1993).
  24. Raman Spectrum of Solid Hydrogen Deuteride, J.J. Miller, R.L. Brooks and J.L. Hunt, Phys. Rev. B 47, 14886-14897 (1993).
  25. Reaction Dynamics of Metastable Helium Molecules and Atoms Near 4.2 K,  D.W. Tokaryk, R.L. Brooks and J.L. Hunt, Phys. Rev. A 48, 364-381 (1993).
  26. Continuum Emission from Irradiated Solid Deuterium, J.A. Forrest, R.L. Brooks, J.L. Hunt, B. Stenum, J. Schou, H. Sørensen, P. Gürtler, F. Magnotta, E.R. Mapoles, P.C. Souers and G.W. Collins, Phys. Rev. B. 46, 13820-13824 (1992). 
  27. Spectroscopic Detection of the A(v=2) Level of 4HeD, D.W. Tokaryk and R.L. Brooks, J. Chem. Phys. 96, 2540-2543 (1992).
  28. Proton-beam Irradiation of Solid Hydrogens - An Overview, R.L. Brooks and J.L. Hunt, Physics in Canada, 47, 132-137 (1991).
  29. Ultraviolet Absorption in Proton-irradiated Solid Deuterium, J.A. Forrest, J.L. Hunt and R.L. Brooks, Can. J. Phys. 68, 1247-1250 (1990).
  30. Vacuum Ultraviolet Continuum Emission From HeH, D.W. Tokaryk, R.L. Brooks and J.L. Hunt, Phys. Rev. A 40, 6113-6116 (1989).
  31. Absorption Spectra From High Vibrational Levels of He2, R.L. Brooks, J.L. Hunt and D.W. Tokaryk, J. Chem. Phys. 91, 7408-7414 (1989).
  32. Charge-induced Absorption in Proton-beam-irradiated Solid Hydrogen Deuteride, J.J. Miller, R.L. Brooks, J.L. Hunt and J.D. Poll, Can. J. Phys. 66, 1025 (1988).
  33. Helium Hydride Emission Spectra at 550 and 640 nm, R.L. Brooks and J.L. Hunt, J. Chem. Phys. 89, 7077 (1988).
  34. Helium Emission Spectra From Doped Samples of Solid Hydrogen and Deuterium, R.L. Brooks and J.L. Hunt, J. Chem. Phys. 88, 7267 (1988).
  35. Rotational Perturbation Between Two Electronically Excited States of 4HeD, R.L. Brooks and B.G. Nickel, Chem. Phys. Lett. 139, 503 (1987).
  36. Emission Spectra of Helium Hydride at 4.2K, R.L. Brooks, J.L. Hunt and J.J. Miller, Phys. Rev. Lett 58, 199 (1987).
  37. The UV-Visible Emission Spectra of Oxygen and Nitrogen in Solid Hydrogen and Deuterium Hosts, Robert L. Brooks, J. Chem. Phys. 85, 1247 (1986).
  38. Electron Bubbles, Small-polaron Holes, and Charge-induced Effects in Solid Deuterium, R.L. Brooks, S.K. Bose, J.L. Hunt, Jack R. MacDonald, J.D. Poll, and J.C. Waddington, Phys. Rev. B 32, 2478 (1985).
  39. Interference Effects in the Charge-induced Spectrum of H2 at 4.2K, R.L. Brooks, J.L. Hunt, Jack R. MacDonald, J.D. Poll and J.C. Waddington, Can. J. Phys. 63, 937 (1985).
  40. Observation of Quartet State Fine Structures and Lifetimes in  Lithium-like Ne VIII, A.E. Livingston, J.E. Hardis, L.J. Curtis,  R.L. Brooks , H.G. Berry, Phys. Rev. A 30, 2089 (1984).
  41. An Infrared Absorption Study of Electron Trapping in Proton- Irradiated Solid Deuterium Below 12 K, M.A. Selen, R.L. Brooks,  J.L. Hunt, Jack R. MacDonald, J.D. Poll, J.C. Waddington, Nucl.  Instrum. Methods 230 [B2], 720 (1984).
  42. Infrared Absorption in Proton-irradiated Solid Deuterium, R.L.  Brooks, M.A. Selen, J.L. Hunt, Jack R. MacDonald, J.D. Poll, J.C.  Waddington, Phys. Rev. Lett. 51, 1077 (1983).
  43. Measurement of the Transition Probability of the 2s2  1S0 - 2s3p 3P1E Intercombination Line in NeVII, J.E. Hardis, L.J. Curtis, P.S. Ramanujan, A.E. Livingston and R.L. Brooks, Phys. Rev. A27, 257 (1983).
  44. Comparisons Between Theory and Experiment in Two Electron Systems, H.G. Berry, R. DeSerio and R.L. Brooks, Nucl. Instrum.  Methods, 202, 95 (1982).
  45. Doubly Excited States in Some Light Atoms, H.G. Berry, R.L. Brooks, J.E. Hardis and W.J. Ray, Nucl. Instrum. Methods, 202, 73 (1982).
  46. Hyperfine Structures of the nd 1D(n = 3-8) States of 3He I, R.L.  Brooks, V.F. Streif and H.G. Berry, Nucl. Instrum. Methods, 202, 113 (1982).
  47. The 1s2s2p2  5P1,2,3 - 1s2p3  5S2 Transitions in CIII, NIV and OV, H.G. Berry, R.L. Brooks, K.T. Cheng, J.E. Hardis and W. Ray, Physica Scripta  25, 391 (1982).
  48. Alignment and Orientation of the 3p 3P HeI Term after Tilted-foil  Excitation, R.L. Brooks, H.G. Berry and E.H. Pinnington, Phys. Rev. A25 2545 (1982).
  49. Measurements and a Model for the Enhancement of Lyman-α Radiation  Following Foil-induced Dissociation of Molecular Ions, R.L. Brooks and H.G. Berry, Phys. Rev. A25, 161 (1982).  
  50. Optical Observations of Molecular Dissociation in Thin Foils, H.G. Berry, T.J. Gay and R.L. Brooks, in Molecular Ions, Molecular Structure and Interaction with Matter, ed. B. Rosner, Ann. Isr. Phys. Soc., 4, 217 (1981).
  51. Foil Dissociation of Fast Molecular Ions into Atomic Excited States, H.G. Berry, T.J. Gay and R.L. Brooks, IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.,NS-28, 1174 (1981).
  52. The 2s-2p Transitions in Helium-like Ions, R. DeSerio, H.G. Berry, R.L. Brooks, J. Hardis, A.E. Livingston and S. Hinterlong, Phys. Rev. A24, 1872 (1981).
  53. Polarization Measurements for the 3p 3Po and 4d 3D Terms of Neutral Helium Excited by the Beam-Tilted Foil Interaction, Eric H. Pinnington, James A. O'Neill and Robert L. Brooks, Phys. Rev. A23, 3013 (1981).
  54. Energies and Lifetimes of Excited Atomic States in ArV - ArVIII, A.E. Livingston, E.H. Pinnington, D.J.G. Irwin, J.A. Kernahan and R.L. Brooks, J. Opt. Soc. Am., 71, 442 (1981).
  55. Radiation from the Negative Lithium Ion, R.L. Brooks, J.E. Hardis, H.G. Berry, L.J. Curtis, K.T. Cheng and W. Ray, Phys. Rev. Lett.45, 1318 (1980).
  56. Spectrum and Polarization of Helium Doubly Excited Triplet States, Robert L. Brooks and Eric H. Pinnington, Phys. Rev. A22, 529 (1980).
  57. Beam-foil Spectroscopy of Aluminium Below 2000 Å, J.A. Kernahan, E.H. Pinnington, K.E. Donnelly, J.A. O'Neill and R.L. Brooks, J. Phys. 40, Colloque, C1-180 (1979).
  58. Polarization Measurements of Two He I Transitions Using Beam-tilted-foil Excitation, R.L. Brooks and E.H. Pinnington, J. Phys. 40, Colloque, Cl-295 (1979).
  59. Beam-foil Spectroscopy of Iodine, J.A. O'Neill, E.H. Pinnington, K.E. Donnelly and R.L. Brooks, J. Phys. 40, Colloque, C1-194 (1979).
  60. Beam-Foil Lifetime Measurements Using ANDC Analysis for the Resonance Doublet in ArVIII, KrVIII and XeVIII, E.H. Pinnington, R.N. Gosselin, J.A. O'Neill, J.A. Kernahan, K.E. Donnelly and R.L. Brooks, Physica Scripta 20, 151 (1979).
  61. A Study of the Beam-Foil Spectrum of Iodine from 400 to 1300 Å, J.A. O'Neill, E.H. Pinnington, K.E. Donnelly and R.L. Brooks, Physica Scripta 20, 60 (1979).
  62. Radiative Lifetime Measurements in ARII-VII, J.A. Kernahan, E.H. Pinnington, J.A. O'Neill, R.L. Brooks and K.E. Donnelly, Physica Scripta 19, 267 (1979).
  63. Polarization Measurements of HeI Singlet Transitions Following Beam-Tilted-Foil Excitation, Robert L. Brooks and Eric H. Pinnington, Phys. Rev . A18, 1454 (1978).