Takeshi Oka
| Takeshi Oka 岡 武史 | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1932 Tokyo, Japan[1] |
| Citizenship | Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Fields | Astrochemistry |
| Institutions |
University of Tokyo Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics University of Chicago |
| Alma mater | University of Tokyo |
| Academic advisors | Gerhard Herzberg[2] |
| Doctoral students |
Moungi G. Bawendi Benjamin J. McCall Christopher M. Lindsay Christopher G. Tarsitano Jennifer L. Gottfried Christopher P. Morong Christopher F. Neese[2] |
| Other notable students | Mitchio Okumura[2] |
| Known for |
Discover the Trihydrogen cation (H3+) Hydronium Methanium |
| Notable awards |
Earle K. Plyler Prize (1982) William F. Meggers Award (1997) Ellis R. Lippincott Award (1998) E. Bright Wilson Award in Spectroscopy (2002) Davy Medal (2004) |
Takeshi Oka (岡 武史 Oka Takeshi, born 1932), FRS FRSC, is a Japanese-American chemist and astronomer specializing in the field of galactic astronomy, known as the pioneer of astrochemistry and the discoverer of extraterrestrial trihydrogen cation (H+
3).[3]
He is now R.A. Milliken Distinguished Service Emeritus Professor, Departments of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Chemistry; Enrico Fermi Institute; and the College of University of Chicago.[4]
Education
Oka was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1932. He received his BS and PhD degree in 1955 and 1960, respectively, from the University of Tokyo.[1]
Career
In 1963, Oka working as a postdoctoral fellow with Harry Kroto at Gerhard Herzberg's laboratory,[5] National Research Council of Canada. Among them, Kroto and Herzberg have won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, furthermore, the Nobel laureate Robert Curl was also Oka's colleague.[6]
From 1960 to 1963, Oka appointed a fellow at JSPS, the University of Tokyo. Afterward, he was successively worked at Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics (1963-1981), and the University of Chicago (1981-).[1]
In 1980, Oka discovered the infrared spectrum of H+
3, and revealed that "molecular clouds" are the birthplace of stars and that the chemical evolution of the clouds is a crucial step in star formation.[3]
Currently, Oka group's studies specializing in the field of the quantum mechanics and dynamics of fundamental molecular ions and their behavior in astronomical objects.[1]
Honors and awards[1]
Oka was on the list of ChemBank's prediction for the 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.[7]
Awards
- 2004 - Davy Medal.
- 2004 - Norman MacLean Faculty Award.
- 2002 - E. Bright Wilson Award in Spectroscopy
- 1998 - Ellis R. Lippincott Award.
- 1997 - William F. Meggers Award.
- 1990 - Burlington Northern Achievement Award.
- 1982 - Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy.
- 1973 - Steacie Prize.
Titles
- 2004 - Wei Lun Visiting Professorship.
- 2004 - Honorary DSc from the University College London.
- 2003 - Earl W. McDaniel Lecture Georgia Institute of Technology.
- 2001 - Honoris caua, University of Waterloo.
- 2000 - George Pimentel Memorial Lecture, University of California, Berkeley.
- 1998 - Medaili Jana Marca Marci.
- 1997 - Distinguished JILA Visitor.
- 1995 - Golden Jubilee Lecture, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
- 1992 - Special Issue, Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy, Vol. 153.
- 1992 - Lecturer, International School of Physics, "Enrico Fermi".
- 1992 - Lord Lecturer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- 1989 - McDowell Lecturer, University of British Columbia.
- 1985-1986 - Chancellor's Distinguished Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley.
- 1981-1982 - Centenary Lecturer, Royal Society.
Membership in learned societies
- Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Fellow, American Physical Society
- Fellow, Optical Society of America
- Fellow, Royal Society of London
- Fellow, Royal Society of Canada
Publications[1]
- Near-infrared electronic spectrum of CH2+. J. Chem. Phys., 121, 11527 (2004).
- High-resolution spectroscopy of the 22Πu←Χ4Σg- forbidden transitions of C2+. J. Chem. Phys., 121, 6290 (2004)
- Atomic and molecular emission lines from the Red Rectangle. Astrophys. J., 615, 947 (2004)
- The non-thermal rotational distribution of H3+. Astrophys. J., 613, 349 (2004).
- Nuclear spin selection rules in chemical reactions by angular momentum algebra. J. Mol. Spectroscc., 228, 635 (2004).
- Near-infrared spectroscopy of H3+ above the barrier to linearity. J. Chem. Phys., 118, 10890 (2003).
- Observations of C3 in translucent sightlines. Astrophys. J., 582, 823 (2003).
- Absorption line survey of H3+ toward the Galactic center sources I. GCS 3-2 and GC IRS2. Publ. Astron. Soc. Japan,, 54, 951 (2002).
- Observation of H3+ in the diffuse interstellar medium. Astrophys. J., 567, 391 (2002).
- Sharp Spectral Lines Observed in γ-Ray Ionized Parahydrogen Crystals. Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 4795 (2001).
- CH5+:The Infrared Spectrum Observed. Science, 284, 135 (1999).
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "University Webpage". University of Chicago. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
- 1 2 3 Chemistry Tree - Takeshi Oka Details
- 1 2 Jian Tang and Takeshi Oka (1999). "Infrared spectroscopy of H
3O+
: the v1 fundamental band". J. Mol. Spectrosc. 196 (1): 120–130. Bibcode:1999JMoSp.196..120T. PMID 10361062. doi:10.1006/jmsp.1999.7844. - ↑ The Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics | Takeshi Oka
- ↑ Sir Harold Kroto - Biographical
- ↑ Robert F. Curl Jr. - Biographical
- ↑ Nobel Predictions | ChemBark