CAREER: Experimental Investigation of the Dependence of Intermolecular Dynamics on Molecular Orientation

本研究由化学系实验物理化学项目资助，由美国麻省理工学院物理化学系教授Richard A.华盛顿大学的卢米斯将研究分子间相互作用和化学反应动力学对反应物相对取向的依赖性。 超声膨胀方法，频率和时间分辨光谱，和飞行时间离子成像光谱的组合将被用来表征分子间的势能面，直接双分子相遇的结果。 初始工作将集中在He + ICl（B）和Ne + ICl（B）对的非弹性、非反应性解离动力学上，以建立化学反应工作的基础。 待研究的双分子反应的初始列表包括电子激发的ICl（B）与F2和H2。 这项研究将与研究生和感兴趣的本科生一起进行。卢米斯教授的教育活动将集中在让本科生在职业生涯的早期动手接触困难和先进的课题，以努力使更多的学生对化学和化学科学感兴趣。量子力学波包项目将被纳入本科量子化学课程。 此外，卢米斯教授还将参加旨在1）让当地小学，初中和高中的学生接触化学现象和学习的外展计划，2）通过访问中西部的小型本科院校，让学生有机会了解新颖的研究课题和技术，3）为国际科学作家授课，他们的兴趣涵盖广泛的科学领域和关注点。

In this project, funded by the Experimental Physical Chemistry program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. Richard A. Loomis of Washington University will investigate the dependence of intermolecular interactions and chemical reaction dynamics on the relative orientations of the reactants. A combination of supersonic expansion methods, frequency- and time-resolved spectroscopy, and time-of-flight ion imaging spectrometry will be used to characterize the intermolecular potential energy surfaces that direct the outcome of bimolecular encounters. Initial work will focus on the inelastic, non-reactive dissociation dynamics of the He + ICl(B) and Ne + ICl(B) pairs to establish a foundation for the chemical reaction work. The initial list of bimolecular reactions to be studied includes electronically excited ICl(B) with F2 and H2. This research will be conducted with graduate students and interested undergraduates.Prof. Loomis' educational activities will focus on giving undergraduate students hands-on exposure to difficult and advanced topics early in their careers in an effort to interest more students in chemistry and chemical science. Quantum mechanical wave packet projects will be incorporated into the undergraduate Quantum Chemistry course. In addition, Prof. Loomis will participate in outreach programs aimed at 1) exposing students in local elementary, middle, and high schools to chemical phenomena and learning, 2) through visits to small undergraduate colleges and universities in the Midwest give students an opportunity to learn about novel research topics and techniques, and 3) lecturing to international science writers whose interest span broad areas and concerns in science.