Electron and photon collision phenomena in atoms, molecules and clusters

“北极光”产生的机制是什么？如何提高集成电路的等离子蚀刻效率？如何使用激光冷却和原子阱来获得等离子体碰撞过程的数据？像水这样的分子是如何分解的？当它们分解时，得到特定碎片的几率有多大？当x射线或其他高能辐射进入我们的身体时，释放的电子会发生什么？怎样才能使硫原子或氮原子束用于科学或工业用途？团簇与相同物质的固体或气体有何不同？这些只是我们将在未来几年试图回答的一些问题。为了实现这一目标，我们计划了一系列涉及电子束、光和超音速膨胀气体的复杂实验。我们将使用各种复杂的探测设备和技术，包括质量、光学和电子能谱仪以及最先进的激光冷却原子陷阱。许多实验的设计是为了提供精确的数据，以完善当前的理论思想。将与在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。所考虑的研究领域要么是该领域的世界研究前沿，要么是受行业信息需求的推动，要么是来自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外，所获得的数据将对大气和行星物理学、臭氧层光化学、极光、等离子体蚀刻和沉积装置、放电、高效照明、生物材料的辐射损伤、纳米技术、光子学和聚变能产生具有重要意义。

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.