Vibrational Dynamics in Weakly-Bound Complexes and Gas- Surface Scattering

北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校的R.E. Miller教授将在化学学部实验物理化学项目中继续研究能量传递动力学问题，特别是存在于弱结合分子复合物和分子-表面相互作用中的问题。对于弱结合配合物，将进行光谱表征，以确定光解动力学的细节和相关的势能面，以及光解产生的碎片的状态对状态探测。这些实验扩展到气体表面散射领域，特别是非线性分子的散射和在此过程中传递的振动和旋转能量。化学反应动力学是当代物理化学研究的前沿。目的是在分子水平上获得对反应过程的详细了解。所研究的系统包括稳定分子，由稳定分子组成的弱结合复合物，以及在散射过程中与固体表面相互作用的分子。气相分子或配合物通过光激发提升到高电子、振动或旋转能量状态，通常解离成具有电子、振动、旋转和动自由度特征能量分布的碎片。由于通常有几种可能的解离过程发生的路径，了解这些过程的细节对于正确地模拟整个反应现象是很重要的。类似的原因指导了固体表面分子散射的研究，特别是那些在催化反应中起作用的分子。

In this project in the Experimental Physical Chemistry program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. R.E. Miller of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will continue a research program on problems of the dynamics of energy transfer, specifically those present in weakly bound molecular complexes and in molecule-surface interactions. For the weakly bound complexes there will be spectroscopic characterization to determine the details of photodissociation dynamics and the associated potential energy surfaces, as well as the state-to-state probing of the fragments resulting from phtodissociation. These experiments are extended into the realm of gas-surface scattering, especially that of scattering of non-linear molecules and the vibrational and rotational energies transferred in this process. The dynamics of chemical reactions stands at the forefront of contemporary research in physical chemistry. The purpose is to obtain a detailed understanding of reaction processes at the molecular level. Systems that are investigated include stable molecules, weakly bound complexes composed of stable molecules, and molecules interacting with solid surfaces in a scattering process. Gas phase molecules or complexes elevated to high electronic, vibrational or rotational states of energy by photoexcitation often dissociate into fragments having characteristic energy distributions in the electronic, vibrational, rotational, and translational degrees of freedom. Since there are usually several possible paths along which a dissociation process is allowed to occur, it is important to understand the details of these processes to allow correct modeling of the overall reaction phenomenon. Similar reasons guide the research in scattering of molecules by solid surfaces, especially those that play a role in catalytic reactions.