Degrees

• Ph.D. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, 1992, Molecular Science and Condensed Matter Physics.
• M.S. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, 1987, Condensed Matter Physics .
• B.S. Northeast Normal University at Changchun, China, 1982.

Research Area

• Nanophase materials fabrications: ion implantation, impregnation in porous materials, pulsed laser deposition, and nanopatterning.
• Laser and optical spectroscopy: ultrafast and static optical excitation and relaxation processes in metal and semiconductor nanophase materials.
• Micro- and nano-nanoparticle manipulation with optical forces: single and multiple particles trapping and transports, 2D and 3D patterning, and opal structures with micro- and nano-particles.
• Mechanisms of Laser assisted particle removal from surfaces and their applications.
• Explosive characterization and trace detection.
• Thermal and thermodynamic properties of nano-composite materials: effects of size, shape, and interfaces.
• Colloidal crystals and quantum dots doped photonic crystals.

Current Positions

• 2002-present Group Leader of Nanoscale Materials and Sensors, Center for Photonic Materials and Devices, Fisk University.
• 1994-present Deputy Director, Chemical Physics Lab., Center for Photonic Materials and Devices, Fisk University.
• 1998-present Adjoint Associate Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University.
• 1997-present Research Associate Professor, Center for Photonic Materials and Devices, Fisk University.
• 2000-present Outstanding Visiting Professor, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics, and Physics, CAS.
• 2000-present Honorary Visiting Professor, Northeast Normal University.

Previous Positions

• 1994 – 1996Research Assistant Professor, NASA Center for Photonic Materials and Devices at Fisk University.
• 1992 – 1993Research Associate NASA Center for Photonic Materials and Devices at Fisk University.

Professional Honors

• NSF Panel Review of Physical Foundations of Enabling Technologies in the area of Quantum Electronics, Plasmas and Electromagnetism, Division of ECS/ENG/NSF (June 19, 1997).
• Proposal reviewer for ECS/ENG/NSF in the area of nanophase materials, linear and nonlinear optics, and optoelectronics and quantum electronics (Summer, 1997).
• Co-founder of Chemical Physics Group at Fisk University.
• Co-organizer for invited symposium of “Optical Properties of Nanophase Materials” at NASA University Research Centers - Technical Advances in Education, Aeronautics, Space, Autonomy, Earth and Environment” at Albuquerque, New Mexico (Feb. 16-19, 1997).
• Outstanding Visiting Scientist Abroad Awards at Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Science (since 2000).
• Honorary Visiting Professor at Northeast Normal University (since 2000).

Publications

• SELECTED (TOTAL: 96)
• “The structure and optical properties of ZnO nanocrystals embedded in CaF2 matrix”, Y.C. Liu, H.Y. Xu, R. Mu, Appl. Phys. Lett., 83, 1210 (2003).
• “Effects of interfacial interaction potential on the sublimation rates of TNT films on a silica surface examined by QCM and AFM techniques” R. Mu, A. Ueda, M.H. Wu and D.O. Henderson, Surface Science Lett. 530, L293 (2003).
• “Optical properties and electrical characterization of p-type ZnO thin films prepared by thermally oxiding Zn3N2 thin films” B.S. Li, Y.C. Liu, Z.Z. Zhi, D.Z. Shen, Y.M. Lu, J.Y. Zhang, X.W. Fan, R.X. Mu, Don O. Henderson. J Mat. Res. Rap. Comm. 18, 3-8 (2003).
• “Preferred orientation of ZnO nanoparticles formed by post-thermal annealing zinc implanted silica. Liu, Y. X.; Liu, Y. C.; Shen, D. Z.; Zhong, G. Z.; Fan, X. W.; Kong, X. G.; R. Mu.; Henderson, D. O. Solid State Comm. , 121(9-10), 531-536 (2002).
• “The structure and photoluminescence of ZnO films prepared by post-thermal annealing zinc-implanted silica. Liu, Y. X.; Liu, Y. C.; Shen, D. Z.; Zhong, G. Z.; Fan, X. W.; Kong, X. G.; R. Mu.; Henderson, D. O. J. Cryst Growth 240(1-2), 152-156 (2002).
• “Optically measured diffusion constants of oxygen vacancies in MgO”. Ueda, A.; R. Mu; Tung, Y-S.; Wu, M. H.; Zavalin, A.; Wang, P. W.; Henderson, D. O. J. Physics: Condensed Matter , 13(23), 5535-5544 (2001).
• “Optical and structural characterization of copper indium disulfide thin films”. Henderson, D. O.; R. Mu; Ueda, A.; Wu, M. H.; Gordon, E. M.; Tung, Y. S.; Huang, M.; Keay, J.; Feldman, L. C.; Hollingsworth, J. A.; Buhro, W. E.; Harris, J. D.; Hepp, A. F.; Raffaelle, R. P. Materials & Design 22(7), 585-589 (2001).
• “Experimental and Theoretical Demonstration of the Interfacial Interaction Potential Between an Adsorbed Film and a Smooth Substrate” R. Mu, A. Ueda, Y.S. Tung, and D.O. Henderson, W.A. Curby and A. Mercado, J. Phys. Chem. 104, 105 (2000).
• “Self aggregation of DNA oligomers with XGG trinucleotide repeats: kinetic and atomic force microscopy measurements” F. Sha, R. Mu, D.O. Henderson, F-M. Chen Biophys. J. 77(1), 410 423 (1999).
• “The Study of Sublimation Rates and Nucleation and Growth of TNT and PETN on Silica and Graphite Surfaces by Optical and Atomic Force Microscopy and ellipsometry, Y.S. Tung, R. Mu, A. Ueda D.O. Henderson, W. Curby and A. Mercado, Atomic Force Microscopy/Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, 3, 135 (1999).
• “A New Approach to Examine Interfacial Interaction Potential Between a Thin Solid Film or a Droplet on a Smooth Substrate” R. Mu, A. Ueda, Y.S. Tung, D.O. Henderson, W. Curby and A. Mercado Atomic Force Microscopy/Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, 3, 97 (1999).
• “Vibrational Spectroscopy and Trace Detection of Explosive Materials Research”, D.O. Henderson, Y.S. Tung, R. Mu and A. Ueda, Trend in Applied Spectroscopy 2, 139 (1998).
• "Diffusion Kinetics of TNT in Nitrile Rubber via FTIR-ATR Spectroscopy", Y.S. Tung, R. Mu D. O. Henderson, W.A. Curby and A. Mercado, IJVS 1, edition 5(3), (1998).
• “Annealing behavior of tin implanted silica” Tung, Y. S.; Ueda, A.; Mu, R.; Wu, M.; Chen, J.; Gu, Z.; Henderson, D. O.; Collins, W. E.; White, C. W.; Zhur, R. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. B 141(1 4), 279 283 (1998).
• “Preparation and humidity sensitive properties of nanocrystalline BaTiO3 thick film fabricated on Teflon substrate by using the pressing method” Qiu, Fabin; Li, Xi; Guo, Kui; Zou, Bo; Zhao, Muyu; Henderson, D. O.; R. Mu; Mater. Chem. Phys. 56(2), 140 146 (1998).
• “Selenium nanoparticles formed by ion implantation into fused silica” Henderson, D. O.; Wu, M.; Ueda, A.; Tung, Y. S.; Mu, R.; Chen, Jinti; Gu, Z.; Collins, W. E.; White, C. W.; Budai, John; Meldrum, A.; Zuhr, R. A.; Zhu, Jane G. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. B 141(1 4), 284 288 (1998).
• “Interaction of Fn centers with gold nanocrystals produced by gold ion implantation in MgO single crystals” Ueda, A.; R. Mu.; Tung, Y. S.; Wu, M.; Collins, W. E.; Henderson, D. O.; White, C. W.; Zuhr, R. A.; Budai, J. D.; Meldrum, A.; Wang, P. W.; Li, Xi; Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. B 141(1 4), 261 267 (1998).
• “Thermal and laser Annealing Effects on Zinc Implanted Silica” Chen, Jinli; R. Mu.; Ueda, A.; Wu, M. H.;Tung, Y. S.; Gu, Z.; Henderson, D. O.; White, C. W.; Budai, J. D.; Zuhr, R.A.; J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A 16(3, Pt. 2), 1409 1413 (1998).
• “Surface Phonon Characterization of InP, GaP and GaAs Quantum Dots Confined in Dielectric Hosts”, D. O. Henderson, A. Ueda, Y. S. Tung, R. Mu, W. C. White, R. A. Zuhr and Jane G. Zhu, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 30, 1432 (1997).
• “Gold Ion Irradiated Muscovite Mica: Infrared and Optical Properties of Defects and Metal Nanocrystals”. Y.-S. Tung, D. O. Henderson, Jinli Chen, Z. Gu, A. Ueda, R. Mu, C. W. White, Jane G. Zhu, and R. Zuhr. Mat. Sci. Forum 239-241, 691 (1997).
• “Defects and Nanocrystals Formed by Gold Ion Implantation in MgO Single Crystals”, A. Ueda, R. Mu, D. O. Henderson, Y. S. Tung, C. W. White, Jane G. Zhu, and R. Zuhr. Mat. Sci. Forum 239-241, 675 (1997).
• “Gold Implanted Calcium Fluoride Single Crystals: Optical Properties of Ion Induced Defects and Metal Nanocrystals”. D. O. Henderson, A. Ueda, Y.-S. Tung, R. Mu C. W. White, Jane G. Zhu, and R. Zuhr. Mat. Sci. Forum 239-241, 695 (1997)
• “Formation of Crystalline Nanoclusters of Ag, Cu, Os, Pd, Pt, Re, or Ru in a Silica Xerogel Matrix from Single-Source Molecular Precusors”, J. P. Carpenter, C. M. Lukehard, S. B. Milne, D. O. Henderson, R. Mu, and S. R. Stock, Chem. Mater. 9 3164 (1997).
• "Diffusion Kinetics of TNT in Nitrile Rubber via FTIR-ATR Spectroscopy", Y.S. Tung, R. Mu and D. O. Henderson, Appl. Spectrosc. 51, 171 (1997).
• "Optical Response from the Ultraviolet to the Far-Infrared and Atomic Force Microscopy of Au Implanted in CaF2", D. O. Henderson, Y. S. Tung, A. Ueda, R. Mu Y. Xue, C. Hall, W. E. Collins, C. W. White, R. A. Zuhr, Jane G. Zhu and Paul Wang, J. Vac. Sci. Technol.. A14(3), 1199 (1996).
• "A Thermal and Vibrational Investigation of Crystal Nucleation and Growth From a Physically Confined and Supercooled Liquid", R. Mu Y. Xue, D. O. Henderson, and D. O. Frazier, Phys. Rev. B 53(10), 6041 (1996).
• "GaAs Nanocrystals Formed by Sequential Ion Implantation", C. W. White, J. D. Budai, J. G. Zhu, S. P. Withrow, D. M. Hembree, Jr., D. O. Henderson, A. Ueda, Y. S. Tung, R. Mu and R. H. Magruder, J. Appl. Phys. 79(4), 1876 (1996).
• "Chemical and Size Characterization of Layered PbI2 Quantum Dots via Optical Spectroscopy and Scanning Probe Microscopy", R. Mu, Y-S. Tung and D. O. Henderson, J. Phys. Chem. 100, 19927 (1996).
• "Formation of Crystalline Germanium Nanoclusters in a Silica Xerogel Matrix from an Organogermanium Percusor", J. P. Carpenter, C. M. Lukehart, D. O. Henderson, R. Mu, B. D. Jones, R. Glosser, S. R. Stock, J. E. Wittig, J. G. Zhu, Chem. Mater. 8, 1268 (1996).
• "Atomic Force Microcopy, Electronic and Vibrational Spectroscopy of Au Colloids Formed Ion Implantation in Muscovite Mica", D. O. Henderson, D. O. Henderson, R. Mu, A. Ueda, Y. S. Tung, C. W. White, R. A. Zuhr and Jane G. Zhu, J. Non-Cryst. Solids 205, 788 (1996).
• "Atomic Force Microscopy of Mercury Iodide Crystal Growth from Porous Media at Room Temperature", D. O. Henderson, Y. S. Tung, R. Mu, A. Ueda and W. E. Collins, J. Vac. Sci. Technol.. B 14(2), 1083 (1996).
• "Electronic and Vibrational Spectra of InP Quantum Dots Formed by Sequential Ion Implantation", R. Mu, D. O. Henderson, Y. S. Tung, A. Ueda, C. W. White, R. A. Zuhr and Jane G. Zhu, J. Vac. Sci. Technol.. A 14(3), 1482 (1996).
• "Atomic Force Microscopy Study of Mercuric Iodide Surfaces", Y.S. Tung, D. O. Henderson, R. Mu and W. E. Collins, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 14(2), 1090 (1996).
• "A Rapid Method for the Identification of Candida at the Species Level by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy", D. O. Henderson, R. Mu and M. Gunasekaran, Biomedical Lett. 51, 223 (1995).
• "Decomposition Kinetics of EGDN on ZnO by Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy", D. O. Henderson, R. Mu Y. S. Tung and G. C. Houston, Appl. Spectrosc..49, 444 (1995).
• “Optical Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene Droplets and Clusters on Mica", D. O. Henderson, M. A. George, A. Burger, R. Mu, Zhiyu Hu and G. C. Houston, Scanning Microscopy 9(2), 387 (1995).
• "Atomic Force Microscopy of Au Implanted in Sapphire", D. O. Henderson, R. Mu Y. S. Tung, M. A. George, A. Burger, S. H. Morgan, C. W. White, R. A. Zuhr and R. H. Magruder, J. Vac. Sci. Technol.. B13(3), 1198 (1995).
• "X-ray Photoelectron and Infrared Spectroscopies of Cu-Implanted Silica and Borasilicate Glasses", D. O. Henderson, M. A. George, Y. S. Tung, R. Mu, A. Burger, S. H. Morgan, W. E. Collins, C. W. White, R. A. Zuhr, J. Vac. Sci. Technol.. A13, 1254 (1995).
• "The Possible Crossover Effects of NaNO3 Confined in Porous Media: From Bulk to Clusters", R. Mu F. Jin, S. H. Morgan, D. O. Henderson, and E. Silberman, J. Chem. Phys. 100(10), 7749 (1994).
• "Symmetry Lowering due to Site-Occupation Disorder in Vibrational Spectra of Gehlenite, Ca2(AlSi)AlO7", Z. Burshtein, Y. Shimony, S. H. Morgan, D. O. Henderson, R. Mu E. Silberman, J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 54, 1043 (1993).
• "Geometrically Restricted Ultrathin (20 nm) Film of Cyclohexane: A New Metastable Phase" R. Mu and V. M. Malhotra, Phys. Rev. B [Rapid Communication] 46(1), 532 (1992).
• "Effects of Surface and Physical Confinement on the Phase Transitions of Cyclohexane inPorous Silica", R. Mu and V. M. Malhotra, Phys. Rev. B, 44(9), 4296 (1991).
• "A New Approach to Elucidate Coal-Water Interactions by an In-situ Transmission FT-ir Technique", R. Mu and V. M. Malhotra, Fuel, 70, 1233 (1991).
• "FT IR Spectra of Water in Microporous KBr Pellets and Water's Desorption Kinetics" V. M. Malhotra, S. Jasty, and R. Mu, Appl. Spectrosc. 43, 638, (1989).