CAREER: Untangling the Energetics and Dynamics of Atom-Radical and Radical-Radical Reactions

在该项目中，Kaiser将研究基态碳原子和硅原子与丙炔和烯丙基自由基的双分子原子自由基反应的碰撞能量依赖反应动力学，以及丙炔-丙炔、丙炔-烯丙基和烯丙基-烯丙基的自由基-自由基反应。该项目由nsf - CAREER项目资助，由化学部门实验物理化学项目资助。这项研究的主要目的是揭示这些过程背后的反应机制。实验将采用交叉超音速光束技术进行。两种反应物束在单一碰撞条件下以特定的碰撞能量交叉之前，都将在定义良好的量子态中制备。这项研究将与许多具有各种专业知识的国际合作者一起进行。PI将积极参与反应动力学跨学科课程的开发，将他的化学系与物理与天文系、该大学天文研究所和夏威夷地球物理与行星学研究所联系起来。通过这些相互作用，PI将把化学动力学与天体化学、行星科学、实验室天体物理学、天体生物学和燃烧化学联系起来。PI的研究项目将涉及本科生和研究生的培养，以及博士后研究人员的进一步科学发展。参与研究、培训和指导的本科生，将主要从夏威夷大学未被充分代表的少数民族学生中选拔。PI还将对地方学校的科学教师和学生进行访问、科普讲座、高中学生和教师参观研究实验室等外展活动。

In this project, funded within the NSF-wide CAREER program by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Kaiser will investigate the collision-energy dependent reaction dynamics of bimolecular atom-radical reactions of ground state atomic carbon and silicon with propargyl and allyl radicals, and the radical-radical reactions propargyl-propargyl, propargyl-allyl, and allyl-allyl. The principal objective of this research is to unravel the reaction mechanisms that underlie these processes. The experiments will be performed using crossed supersonic beam technology. Both reactant beams will be prepared in well-defined quantum states before they cross with a specific collision energy under single collision conditions. The research will be conducted with a number of international collaborators spanning a variety of expertise. The PI will actively participate in the development of a cross-disciplinary curriculum in reaction dynamics, linking his Department of Chemistry with the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the university's Institute for Astronomy and the Hawai'ian Institute of Geophysics and Planetology. Through these interactions the PI will relate chemical dynamics to astrochemistry, planetary sciences, laboratory astrophysics, astrobiology, and combustion chemistry. The PI's research project will involve the training of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as the further scientific development of postdoctoral researchers. Undergraduate students involved in research, training and mentoring and will primarily be drawn from the underrepresented minority students at the University of Hawai'i. The PI will further engage in an outreach program to science teachers and students at local schools involving visits, presentation of popular scientific lectures, and visits by high school students and teachers to the research laboratories.