Objectif "To date no experiment has investigated ion-molecule reactions at temperatures significantly below about 20 K, for two reasons: (i) Cooling the translational and internal degrees of freedom of ions and molecules is extremely challenging. (ii) Even very weak stray electric fields accelerate the ions. A potential difference of only 1 mV across the reaction volume imparts a kinetic energy of 1 meV to ions, which corresponds to a temperature of about 12 K. Quantum mechanical effects arising from the translational and the frozen or hindered rotational motion of the reactants in the intermolecular potential are only expected to be significant below 20 K and have therefore not been observed yet in ion-molecule reactions, even for reactions involving the lightest ions and molecules. This proposal aims at developing a new experimental method to study ion-molecule reactions at temperatures down to 100 mK and to study ion-molecule reactions involving light species, with particular emphasis placed on the observation and quantification of quantum effects in low-temperature ion-molecule chemistry. To reach this goal, we will study the ion-molecule reactions within the orbit of a highly excited Rydberg electron, which will shield the reaction from stray fields without affecting its outcome. To reach very low collision energies, we will use a merged-beam approach relying on a surface-electrode Rydberg-Stark deflector. In the preparatory phase of this proposal, we have carried out a proof-of-principle measurement of the H2+ + H2 -> H3+ + H reaction below 1 K using a simplified version of the ""ideal"" instrument and demonstrated the feasibility of our method. We now plan to exploit the full potential of our new approach and study important ion-molecule reactions in a temperature range thought until now to be experimentally inaccessible." Champ scientifique natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrynoble gasesnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyastrophysicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencescelestial mechanics Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Thème(s) ERC-2016-ADG - ERC Advanced Grant Appel à propositions ERC-2016-ADG Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant Institution d’accueil EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH Contribution nette de l'UE € 2 130 088,00 Adresse Raemistrasse 101 8092 Zuerich Suisse Voir sur la carte Région Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 2 130 088,00 Bénéficiaires (1) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution nette de l'UE Tout développer Tout réduire EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH Suisse Contribution nette de l'UE € 2 130 088,00 Adresse Raemistrasse 101 8092 Zuerich Voir sur la carte Région Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 2 130 088,00
