Experimental and theoretical study of mode-specific vibrational dynamics in ion chemistry

在这个由化学系实验物理化学计划资助的项目中，犹他州大学的Scott安德森教授将继续研究小的多原子阳离子的反应机理，包括水，二氧化氮，氨和乙炔阳离子。 这项工作的目的是了解如何不同形式的反应物运动，如平移，振动和旋转控制反应。 研究还将调查和解释不同产品渠道之间的分支。 先进的仪器，如引导离子束串联质谱仪将被用来帮助与模型多原子离子的实验。 安德森教授和他的团队还将把实验数据与理论计算结合起来，探索实验中观察到的效应的动力学起源。 研究控制多原子离子反应的因素将使一般多原子反应得以扩展。 选择用于研究的离子在大气、彗星、星际和等离子体化学中具有实际重要性。 安德森教授，沿着两名研究生和一名博士后研究员将是这个项目的主要研究人员，而本科生和高中生将参与一个涉及重要数学组成部分的仪器开发相关项目。 安德森教授将继续通过一些活动，包括他与犹他州梅萨/STEP计划的合作伙伴关系，在招募少数民族学生的努力。

In this project, funded by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Division of Chemistry, Professor Scott Anderson of the University of Utah will continue investigations on reaction mechanisms of small polyatomic cations, including water, nitrogen dioxide, ammonia and acetylene cations. The work is aimed at learning how different forms of reactant motion such as translation, vibration, and rotation control reactivity. Studies will also investigate and explain the branching between different product channels. Sophisticated instrumentation such as a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer will be employed to aid in experiments with model polyatomic ions. Professor Anderson and his team will also couple experimental data with theoretical calculations to explore the dynamical origins of effects observed in the experiments. Studying factors that control the reaction of polyatomic ions will enable extension to reactions of polyatomics in general. The ions selected for study are of practical importance in atmospheric, cometary, interstellar, and plasma chemistry, for example. Professor Anderson, along with two graduate students and a post-doctoral fellow will be the primary researchers on this project, while undergraduate and high-school students will be involved in a related project on instrument development that involves a significant mathematics component. Prof. Anderson will continue his efforts at recruiting minority students through a number of activities, including his partnership with the Utah MESA/STEP Program.