State and Alignment Resolved Molecular Dynamics

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In this project sponsored by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. Leone of the University of Colorado will study how the collisions of rare earth atoms with inert gas atoms depend on the orientation and specific quantum states of reactants and products. This work, including detailed theoretical calculations, will be extended to studies of reactive collisions which produce diatomic molecules in the gas phase. The result will be a greatly increased understanding of the quantum basis of steric effects on simple chemical reactions. %%% When molecules and atoms collide in chemical reactions, the reactivity and nature of the products formed depend on the detailed geometrical arrangement of incoming reactants at the moment of collision. In this study Prof. Leone will use oriented atoms and will measure how this orientation is transferred to reaction products. This will lead to a greatly improved understanding of precisely how orientation affects reactive collisions, thereby answering questions which have long been of interest in fundamental studies of chemical reactions.