Electron and photon collision phenomena in atoms, molecules and clusters

造成“北极光”的机制是什么？如何提高集成电路的等离子刻蚀效率？如何使用激光冷却和原子陷阱来获得有关等离子体碰撞过程的数据？像水这样的分子是以什么方式分解的，当它们这样做时，获得特定碎片的可能性有多大？当X射线或其他高能辐射进入我们的身体时，释放的电子发生了什么变化？怎样才能制造出科学或工业用的硫或氮原子束？星系团与相同物质的固体或气体有什么不同？这些只是我们在接下来的几年里试图回答的问题的一部分。为了帮助实现这一点，我们计划进行一系列复杂的实验，涉及电子束、光和超音速膨胀气体。我们将使用各种复杂的探测设备和技术，包括质量、光学和电子光谱仪以及最先进的激光冷却原子陷阱。许多实验旨在为完善当前的理论思想提供准确的数据。将与加拿大和世界各地从事相关工作的其他科学家保持密切合作。然而，正在考虑的研究领域要么处于该领域的世界研究前沿，要么是出于行业对信息的需求，或者来自于在其他领域前沿工作的同事。除了从基本观点来看它们的重要性之外，所获得的数据还将对大气和行星物理、臭氧层的光化学、极光、等离子体刻蚀和沉积设备、电放电、高效照明、生物材料的辐射损害、纳米技术、光子学和聚变能源的产生具有重要意义。

What are the mechanisms responsible for the "Northern Lights" ? How can plasma etching of integrated circuits be made more efficient ? How can laser cooling and atom traps be used to obtain data about plasma collision processes ? In what ways do molecules like water break up, and what are the chances of getting particular fragments when they do ? What happens to the electrons which are released when X-rays or other high energy radiation enter our bodies ? How can beams of sulphur or nitrogen atoms be made for scientific or industrial use ? How are clusters different from solids or gases of the same material ?    These are just some of the questions that we will be trying to answer during the next few years. To help accomplish this we plan a wide range of sophisticated experiments involving beams of electrons, light and supersonically expanded gases. We will be using a variety of intricate detection devices and techniques, including mass, optical and electron spectrometers and a state-of-the-art laser-cooled atom trap. Many of the experiments are designed to provide accurate data for the refinement of current theoretical ideas. Close collaboration will be maintained with other scientists doing related work in Canada and around the world.    The research areas under consideration are either at the forefront of world research in this field or are motivated by the demands for information of industry, or from colleagues working at the cutting edge of other fields. In addition to their importance from a basic point of view, the data obtained will have significance for atmospheric and planetary physics, the photochemistry of the ozone layer, the aurora, plasma etching and deposition devices, electrical discharges, high-efficiency lighting, radiation damage in biological materials, nanotechnology, photonics and fusion energy generation.