Pendular States of Molecules

在这个由化学系赞助的实验物理化学项目中，哈佛大学的赫施巴赫教授将建造一种新的装置，用于在分子束中对小分子进行电场排列。这将是第一次，可以简单地从光谱中读取排列的程度，而不需要借助复杂的光解离技术。在化学反应的分子束研究中使用定向分子靶将导致对气相反应机理的更准确和详细的图像。通常情况下，当分子作为化学反应的目标时，碰撞伙伴的相互取向完全是随机的。赫施巴赫教授(哈佛大学)正在开发一种在反应前确定分子方向的通用方法，并将应用它以前所未有的详细程度阐明反应机理。

In this Experimental Physical Chemistry project sponsored by the Chemistry Division, Prof. Herschbach (Harvard University) will construct a new apparatus for electric field alignment of small molecules in a molecular beam. For the first time, it will be possible to read the degree of alignment simply from the spectrum without recourse to complicated photodissociation techniques. The use of oriented molecular targets in molecular beam studies of chemical reations will lead to much more accurate and detailed pictures of gas phase reaction mechanisms. %%% Normally, when molecules serve as targets for chemical reactions, the mutual orientation of the colliding partners is completely random. Prof. Herschbach (Harvard University) is developing a general method for orienting the molecules prior to reaction, and will apply it to elucidating reaction mechanisms at an unprecedented level of detail.