Collaborative Research: Experimental and Theoretical/Computational Studies of Low Energy Electron Collisions with Molecules

这个项目将研究慢电子与生物分子的反应。这种慢电子通常在深紫外光子和x射线照射后的人体组织中发现。所涉及的过程将是生物分子中电子状态的激发，这一过程因此类分子的大小而变得复杂，并涉及两个已建立和先进的理论（加州理工学院）和实验（加州州立大学富勒顿分校）小组之间的密切合作。最近在水方面的成功研究为研究更复杂的分子——甲醇和乙醇——提供了动力，并为这一研究方向提供了良好的基础。这种合作的更广泛的影响是它参与了巴西的国际实验（U. Juiz de Fora）和理论小组（USP， U. Parana in Curitiba, Unicamp）。它还为加州州立大学富勒顿分校的美国本科生提供参与，让他们前往巴西进行夏季研究，在那里开展开发项目的实验工作，并获取电子-生物分子碰撞数据，将美国技术转让给巴西，并促进两国之间的科学关系。这也为来自这些大学的巴西教师和学生来美国CIT/CSUF合作提供了动力。参加的学生获得国际经验，很有可能攻读物理或物理化学的研究生课程。该奖项由美国国家科学基金会国际和综合活动办公室共同资助。

This project will concern the investigation of reactions of slow electrons with biomolecules. Such slow electrons are typically found in human tissue after irradiation with deep ultra-violet photons and X-rays. The processes concerned will be in the excitation of electron states in the biomolecule, a process which is complicated by the size of such molecules, and involves close collaboration between two established and advanced theoretical (Caltech) and experimental (Cal State Fullerton) groups. Recent success in work with water has provided impetus for this collaboration to look at more complex molecules - methanol and ethanol and has provided a good foundation for this direction of research.The broader impact of this collaboration is its involvement of international experimental (U. Juiz de Fora) and theoretical groups (USP, U. Parana in Curitiba, Unicamp) in Brazil. It also provides involvement of US undergraduate students at Cal State Fullerton to go to Brazil to carry out summer research to do experimental work in developing projects there as well as taking electron-biomolecule collisions data to transfer US technology to Brazil and to foster scientific relations between the two countries. This also provides impetus for Brazilian faculty and students from these universities to come to the USA to CIT/CSUF and collaborate. The students who participate get international experience and are very likely to pursue graduate studies in physics or physical chemistry. This award is being co-funded by NSF's Office of International and Integrative Activities.