Cluster Science

对团簇的研究，即分子和原子聚集体，有望揭示微观尺度下的体积性质是如何演变的。光谱学工具将用于测量氦原子和氢分子的光谱，以检测超流体行为的指标。氦纳米液滴是包含数千个氦原子的更大的聚集体。它们的超流体性质和低温（0.38 K）使它们成为理想的光谱基质。这些氦滴将用于研究低温下的化学反应；这些结果将阐明反应动力学中的基本问题，例如穿越反应屏障隧道的重要性，并将增强我们对星际介质中化学的理解。研究计划的第三个方面是基于激光的痕量气体传感器的设计，该传感器在大气化学、医学诊断和工业监测方面都有应用。例如，呼出气体中存在的一些分子种类可以用作某些病理条件的标记物。

The study of clusters, i. e. molecular and atomic aggregates, promises to unravel how bulk properties evolve from the microscopic scale. Spectroscopic tools will be used to measure spectra of helium atoms and hydrogen molecules containing clusters to detect indicators of superfluid behaviour. Helium nanodroplets are larger aggregates that contain thousands of helium atoms. Their superfluid nature and low temperature (0.38 K) make them an ideal spectroscopic matrix. These helium droplets will be used to study chemical reactions at low temperatures; the results will shed light on fundamental issues in reaction dynamics, for example the importance of tunnelling through reaction barriers, and will enhance our understanding of chemistry in the interstellar medium. A third aspect of the research program is the design of laser based trace gas sensors, which have applications in atmospheric chemistry, medical diagnostics, and industrial monitoring. For example, a number of molecular species present in exhaled breath can be used as markers for certain pathological conditions.