Our research involves theoretical studies of single molecule spectroscopy at low temperatures, energy and electron transfer and relaxation in molecular aggregates, and the optical and electronic properties of conjugated oligomers and polymers and the transport of charge in organic systems.

In the first area, work is ongoing on how to interpret the spectroscopy of a single molecule or aggregate of molecules in a low temperature condensed phase. We make predictions about the time dependence of the spectrum due to fluctuations in the surrounding environment. In the area of energy and electron transfer and relaxation in molecular aggregates, our work is concerned with the dynamics of excitations in aggregates and the associated optical properties. The effects of disorder, impurities and temperature are considered. We work closely with experimenters in these areas to interpret their results.

The electronic structure and optical properties of conjugated polymers in condensed phases are strongly dependent on the geometry of the polymer and on the environment of the polymer. We are currently interested in the effects of interchain interactions on the optical spectrum, charge transport and the nonlinear optical susceptibilities of these polymers.

Multichromophoric Forster resonance energy transfer from B800 to B850 in the light harvesting complex 2: Evidence for subtle energetic optimization by purple bacteria, S. Jang, M. Newton and R. J. Silbey,  J. Phys. Chem. B 24, 6807-6814 (2007)

Properties of the generalized master equation: Green's functions and probability density functions in the path representation, Ophir Flomenbom and Robert J. Silbey, J. Chem. Phys. 111, Art. 034103 (2007)

Path probability density functions for semi-Markovian random walks, Ophir Flomenbom and R.J. Silbey, Phys Rev E 76, 041101 (2007)

A Unified theory for Charge Transport in Organic Crystals, Y-C Cheng and R. J. Silbey J. Chem. Phys. 128 Art 114713 (2008)

Universal properties of mechanisms from two-state trajectories, O. Flomenbom and R. J. Silbey J. Chem. Phys. 128 Art 114902 (2008)

Radiating dipoles near curved interfaces, S. Presse and R. Silbey, Phys. Rev. A, 77 Art 043402 (2008)

Generic Schemes for Single Molecule Kinetics: Self-consistent Pathway Solutions for Renewal Processes,  Jianshu Cao, R. Silbey, J. Phys. Chem. B  [feature article], 112, 12867-12880 (2008)

Dynamics of hardcore interacting particles with different diffusion constants in one dimension, T. Ambjornsson,  M. Lomholt, L. Lizana, and R. J. Silbey, J. Chem. Phys. 129, 185106 (2008)

Diffusion of two particles with a finite interaction potential in one dimension,  T. Ambjornsson and R. J. Silbey, J. Chem. Phys. 129, 165103 (2008)

A practical model for imperfect poly-receptor molecular-wire sensors, J.H. Bae, Y.R. Lim, W. Jung, R.J. Silbey and J. Sung Anal. Chem. (2008)

Toolbox for analyzing finite two-state trajectories, O. Flomenbom and R. J. Silbey,  Phys. Rev. E, 78, Art 066105 (2008)