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

这个项目将研究慢电子与生物分子的反应。这种慢电子通常是在用深紫外光光子和X射线照射后的人体组织中发现的。相关的过程将在生物分子中的电子态的激发下进行，这一过程因此类分子的大小而变得复杂，并涉及两个已建立的和先进的理论(加州理工学院)和实验(加州州立大学富勒顿)小组之间的密切合作。最近在水方面的成功为这一合作提供了动力，以研究更复杂的分子--甲醇和乙醇，并为这一研究方向提供了良好的基础。这一合作的更广泛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)。它还让加州州立大学富勒顿分校的美国本科生参与到巴西进行暑期研究，在那里开发项目方面做实验工作，以及利用电子-生物分子碰撞数据将美国的技术转移到巴西，并促进两国之间的科学关系。这也为这些大学的巴西教职员工和学生提供了来到美国CIT/CSUF并进行合作的动力。参与的学生获得国际经验，很可能攻读物理或物理化学方面的研究生课程。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.