Project

electron-molecule scattering; spectroscopy and reactivity of transient anions; processes in low pressure plasmas; electron-molecule cross sections; electron-driven chemistry; plasma chemistry; electron scattering; elastic scattering; vibrational excitation; dissociative electron attachment; resonances

Lead
Lay summary
Résumé succinctChemical and physical processes induced by free electrons play a key role in a number of natural and technological environments, such as planetary atmospheres and comets, semiconductor manufacture, radiotherapy of cancer and many more. The present project provides the fundamental knowledge needed to understand and optimize these applications. RésuméThe project aims at measurement of basic physical and chemical processes induced by an attachment of a free electron to a molecule or an atom. The molecules and atoms are chosen by relevance to plasma processing, lighting, atmospheric and space chemistry, radiation damage to living tissue, fusion plasma, electron-induced processes at an STM tip, and by pure scientific interest. The latter concerns particularly new resonant phenomena near threshold and in the backward scattering, in scattering with complex molecules, and in collaborations with current development of scattering theory. Emphasis is on advanced custom-built instrumentation, permitting the measurement of high-quality quantitative (absolute) cross sections for elastic scattering, vibrational and electronic excitation, and dissociative electron attachment. Development of new instrumentation to reach this goal is pursued.ButThe goals are:1. Development and improvement of instruments to measure the electron-molecule processes.2. Providing accurate quantitative data (cross sections) for the molecules and processes of interest in other disciplines of science and technology (including theory).3. Discovery of new phenomena in electron-molecule collisions.SignificationThe research is a part of international effort in the field of electron collisions. The results are used by several theoretical groups to inspire and validate advanced theoretical methods and models. The experimental and theoretical data are in turn used in models of plasmas and planetary atmospheres. They also provide gas phase reference data permitting deeper insight into electron-driven processes in the condensed phase, such as living tissue and electron-driven material processing.

Direct link to Lay Summary

Last update: 21.02.2013

Number	Title	Start	Funding scheme

Measurement of basic physical and chemical processes induced by an attachment of a free electron to a molecule or an atom. The molecules and atoms are chosen by relevance to plasma processing, lighting, atmospheric and space chemistry, radiation damage to living tissue, fusion plasma, electron-indiced processes at an STM tip, and by pure scientific interest. The latter concerns particularly new resonant phenomena near threshold and in the backward scattering, in scattering with complex molecules, and in collaborations with current development of scattering theory. Emphasis is on advanced custom-built instrumentation, permitting the measurement of high-quality quantitative (absolute) cross sections for elastic scattering, vibrational and electronic excitation, and dissociative electron attachment. Development of new instrumentation to reach this goal is pursued.