RUI: Spectroscopy in bulk superfluid 4He

该奖项由化学系化学结构、动力学和机制（CSDM）项目资助，加州州立大学北岭分校的Jussi Eloranta教授将与他的本科生和研究生一起，通过基于光谱学的方法研究原子和分子物种与超流氦的相互作用。超流氦是一种特殊的溶剂，具有独特的性质（例如，粘度消失，超导热性，液相低至0 K），允许快速能量耗散，原子和分子的自由扩散，并将热效应最小化。待研究的原子和分子种类包括铜和硼原子及其二聚体，以及高荧光分子，如四烯和乙二醛。这些原子种有望在纳米尺度上研究液体的超流体性质。相反，周围的超流体也可以用来探测溶剂化物质的电子性质。该项目的长期目标是了解不寻常的溶剂效应，如溶剂层引导和原子轨道的涡旋排列，如何被用来改变化学反应的进行方式。这可能导致化学反应遵循通常在高温下被抑制的路径。可能应用的例子包括制备新型分子结构，合成高能材料和燃料，以及在低温下控制化学反应（“场引导分子合成”）。与Eloranta教授一起工作的学生将获得与光学、激光、真空技术和电子学相关的技能，以及解决量子力学问题所需的理论工具。

In this award, funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms(CSDM) Program of the Division of Chemistry, Professor Jussi Eloranta of California State University at Northridge together with his undergraduate and graduate students, will study the interaction of atomic and molecular species with superfluid helium through optical spectroscopy based methods. Superfluid helium is an exceptional solvent with unique properties (e.g., vanishing viscosity, super-thermal conductivity, and liquid phase down to 0 K), which allow for fast energy dissipation, free diffusion of atoms and molecules, and minimization of thermal effects. Atomic and molecular species to be studied include copper and boron atoms and their dimers, as well as highly fluorescent molecules such as tetracene and glyoxal. The atomic species are expected to be useful for studying the superfluid properties of the liquid on the nanometer scale. Conversely, the surrounding superfluid liquid can also be used to probe the electronic properties of the solvated species.The long-range goal of this project is to understand how the unusual solvent effects, such as solvent layer guiding and vortex alignment of atomic orbitals, can be used to alter the way chemical reactions proceed. This may result in chemical reactions following paths that would normally be suppressed at elevated temperatures. Examples of possible applications include preparation of novel molecular structures, synthesizing high-energy materials and fuels, and controlling chemical reactions at low temperatures ("field guided molecular synthesis"). Students working with Professor Eloranta will gain skills related to optics, lasers, vacuum technology, and electronics as well as theoretical tools required to solve quantum mechanical problems.