Spectroscopic Studies of Clusters and Aggregates

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The research proposal describes a program to study matter in size regimes from the microscopic, molecular world to the nano-scale by the characterization of molecular aggregates. These studies are largely enabled by a revolution in high resolution spectroscopy both in terms of the development of new, more powerful spectroscopic techniques and its successful application to ever larger molecular systems. In the intermediate size regime, we propose to study clusters of helium atoms, and those of hydrogen molecules, doped with molecular chromophores, such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen cyanide. The results will shed further light on how a bulk phase property, namely superfluidity, evolves from the microscopic scale. Superfluidity is a consequence of the bosonic (integer composite spin) character of the constituent particles. We are particularly interested in using the fermionic 3-helium and HD as solvent species. The detection of superfluid effects in these cases would challenge current interpretations. Our newly constructed chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectrometer will make these studies possible.