Experimental and theoretical study of mode-specific vibrational dynamics in ion chemistry

在这个由化学学部实验物理化学项目资助的项目中，犹他大学的Scott Anderson教授将继续研究小多原子阳离子的反应机理，包括水、二氧化氮、氨和乙炔阳离子。这项工作旨在了解不同形式的反应物运动，如平移、振动和旋转如何控制反应性。研究还将调查和解释不同产品渠道之间的分支。复杂的仪器，如引导离子束串联质谱仪将被用来帮助实验与模型多原子离子。安德森教授和他的团队还将把实验数据与理论计算结合起来，探索实验中观察到的效应的动力学起源。研究控制多原子离子反应的因素，将使多原子反应的研究得到推广。例如，所选择的离子在大气、彗星、星际和等离子体化学中具有实际意义。安德森教授与两名研究生和一名博士后研究员将是这个项目的主要研究人员，而本科生和高中生将参与一个涉及重要数学成分的仪器开发相关项目。安德森教授将通过一系列活动，包括他与犹他州MESA/STEP计划的合作，继续努力招收少数民族学生。

In this project, funded by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Division of Chemistry, Professor Scott Anderson of the University of Utah will continue investigations on reaction mechanisms of small polyatomic cations, including water, nitrogen dioxide, ammonia and acetylene cations. The work is aimed at learning how different forms of reactant motion such as translation, vibration, and rotation control reactivity. Studies will also investigate and explain the branching between different product channels. Sophisticated instrumentation such as a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer will be employed to aid in experiments with model polyatomic ions. Professor Anderson and his team will also couple experimental data with theoretical calculations to explore the dynamical origins of effects observed in the experiments. Studying factors that control the reaction of polyatomic ions will enable extension to reactions of polyatomics in general. The ions selected for study are of practical importance in atmospheric, cometary, interstellar, and plasma chemistry, for example. Professor Anderson, along with two graduate students and a post-doctoral fellow will be the primary researchers on this project, while undergraduate and high-school students will be involved in a related project on instrument development that involves a significant mathematics component. Prof. Anderson will continue his efforts at recruiting minority students through a number of activities, including his partnership with the Utah MESA/STEP Program.