Electron and photon collision phenomena in atoms, molecules and clusters

“北方之光”产生的机制是什么？如何使集成电路的等离子体蚀刻更有效？如何利用激光冷却和原子阱获得等离子体碰撞过程的数据？像水这样的分子以什么方式分裂，当它们分裂时，得到特定碎片的机会有多大？当X射线或其他高能辐射进入我们的身体时，电子会发生什么变化？硫或氮原子束是如何被制造出来用于科学或工业用途的呢？团簇与相同物质的固体或气体有何不同？ 这些只是我们在今后几年中将试图回答的一些问题。为了帮助实现这一目标，我们计划进行一系列复杂的实验，包括电子束、光束和超音速膨胀的气体。我们将使用各种复杂的检测设备和技术，包括质谱仪、光学和电子光谱仪以及最先进的激光冷却原子阱。许多实验的目的是提供精确的数据，以完善目前的理论思想。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。 正在考虑的研究领域要么是在该领域的世界研究的前沿，要么是由行业的信息需求，或来自其他领域的前沿工作的同事的动机。所获得的数据除了从基本角度来看具有重要意义外，还将对大气和行星物理学、臭氧层的光化学、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.