The award recognizes outstanding experimental advances in the fields of atomic and molecular spectroscopy or chemical physics, and Professor Ashfold’s citation reads:

For his innovative work on molecular photodynamics, especially in combining multiwavelength experiments on small molecules, high quality electronic structure calculations, and physical organic chemistry concepts into a “bigger picture” for broad understanding of experimental photodynamics of systems of increasing complexity.

He is the first UK scientist to receive this prize, whose past recipients include three Nobel laureates. 

Professor Ashfold will receive his award at the March 2015 meeting of the APS in San Antonio, Texas.