RUI: Spectroscopy in bulk superfluid 4He

该奖项由化学系化学结构、动力学和机制(CSDM)计划资助，加州州立大学北岭分校的Jussi Eloranta教授将与他的本科生和研究生一起，通过基于光学光谱学的方法研究原子和分子物种与超流氦的相互作用。超流氦是一种特殊的溶剂，具有独特的性质(例如，粘度消失、超热传导性和低至0K的液态)，允许快速能量消耗、原子和分子的自由扩散，并将热效应降至最低。要研究的原子和分子物种包括铜和硼原子及其二聚体，以及四烯和乙二醛等强荧光分子。这些原子物种有望用于在纳米尺度上研究液体的超流性质。相反，周围的超流液体也可以用来探测溶剂化物种的电子性质。这个项目的长期目标是了解如何利用不寻常的溶剂效应，如溶剂层引导和原子轨道的涡旋排列，来改变化学反应进行的方式。这可能会导致化学反应沿着通常在高温下被抑制的路径进行。可能应用的例子包括制备新的分子结构，合成高能材料和燃料，以及控制低温化学反应(“场引导分子合成”)。与Eloranta教授合作的学生将获得与光学、激光、真空技术和电子学相关的技能，以及解决量子力学问题所需的理论工具。

In this award, funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms (CSDM) Program of the Division of Chemistry, Professor Jussi Eloranta of California State University at Northridge together with his undergraduate and graduate students, will study the interaction of atomic and molecular species with superfluid helium through optical spectroscopy based methods. Superfluid helium is an exceptional solvent with unique properties (e.g., vanishing viscosity, super-thermal conductivity, and liquid phase down to 0 K), which allow for fast energy dissipation, free diffusion of atoms and molecules, and minimization of thermal effects. Atomic and molecular species to be studied include copper and boron atoms and their dimers, as well as highly fluorescent molecules such as tetracene and glyoxal. The atomic species are expected to be useful for studying the superfluid properties of the liquid on the nanometer scale. Conversely, the surrounding superfluid liquid can also be used to probe the electronic properties of the solvated species.The long-range goal of this project is to understand how the unusual solvent effects, such as solvent layer guiding and vortex alignment of atomic orbitals, can be used to alter the way chemical reactions proceed. This may result in chemical reactions following paths that would normally be suppressed at elevated temperatures. Examples of possible applications include preparation of novel molecular structures, synthesizing high-energy materials and fuels, and controlling chemical reactions at low temperatures ("field guided molecular synthesis"). Students working with Professor Eloranta will gain skills related to optics, lasers, vacuum technology, and electronics as well as theoretical tools required to solve quantum mechanical problems.