ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I really appreciate the scholastic guidance and support of my research adviser, Professor Alan J. Hunt. I have worked for him as a GSRA since becoming involved with the femtosecond laser nanomachining project. Prof. Hunt was actually my co-adviser when I began working on the project, and became my primary adviser after my first adviser, Dr. E. F. Hasselbrink, left our department. Prof. Hunt is logically strict yet generous in taking care of his students, which has no doubt allowed me to remain focused on my research, leading me to the best results. Throughout the years I have learned his scholastic manner, which has no doubt helped me solve mysterious phenomena I have encountered in my research. I appreciate everything he has done for me. In 2004 I was developing a thermal modulator – a core component in 2-dimensional gas chromatography (2DGC) that connects two orthogonal separation mechanisms. However my previous adviser, Dr. Hasselbrink, thought that the 2DGC project was just a summer project and I needed another project for my Ph.D. dissertation. I appreciate Dr. Hasselbrink for getting me started on this research. Professor Edgar Meyhöfer, who is my one of two chair examiners, also helped me with his keen scholastic eyesight. I appreciate him for all of his guidance and advice. I thank IMRA and Intralase Corp. for use of their lasers. This work was supporte