Multiresonant Spectroscopy of Long-Range States of Molecular Hydrogen

分子中高激发态的结构和衰变动力学是一个为阐明物理学提供了丰富而多样的样本的研究领域。氢分子是最简单稳定的中性分子，是探索分子中基本量子力学效应的一个特别重要的系统。一个戏剧性的例子是一类尺寸异常大的所谓双势垒态。长期以来，科学家们一直对这些分子构型的结构和动力学感兴趣，但它们的性质使它们的创造和研究变得非常困难。PI已经开发出一种新的激发方案，它将使我们能够前所未有地访问分子氢中的这些奇异状态。实验测量结果将为发展改进的计算超激发态结构的方法提供重要的激励。必须考虑内能超过电离和解离阈值以及大分子尺寸范围的分子构型。这些结果将提供关于分子氢的高激发态动力学及其在许多天文和大气过程中的重要作用的新信息。这项研究计划将在布林莫尔学院进行，将为年轻女性提供获得深入实验室研究经验的机会。在从事研究的过程中，这个在物理学中代表性不足的群体的成员将建立导师关系，并探索职业期望，以支持他们在物理科学领域的坚持不懈和成功。

The structure and decay dynamics of highly excited states in molecules is a research area that has provided a rich and diverse sampling of elucidating physics. The hydrogen molecule, being the simplest stable neutral molecule, is an especially important system for probing fundamental quantum mechanical effects in molecules. A dramatic example is a class of so-called double-well states of unusually large size. The structure and dynamics of these molecular configurations have long been of interest to scientists, but their nature has made them very difficult to create and study. The PI has developed a new excitation scheme that will allow us unprecedented access to these exotic states in molecular hydrogen. The results of the experimental measurements will provide an important incentive for the development of improved methods of calculating the structure of ?super-excited? molecular configurations where internal energies exceed ionization and dissociation thresholds and large ranges of molecular size must be considered. The results will provide new information about the dynamics of highly excited states of molecular hydrogen and their important role in many astronomical and atmospheric processes. This research program will be conducted at Bryn Mawr College and will provide young women an opportunity to obtain in-depth laboratory research experiences. Engaged in research, members of this underrepresented group in physics will build mentor relationships and explore career expectations that can support their persistence and success in the physical sciences.