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Physics and Applications of Negative IONS

Project description

The science of negative ions

Unlike positive ions, negative ions are somewhat of a mystery. This is because their weak binding energies make it difficult to study them using traditional methods. As a result, many of their properties are poorly defined. Nevertheless, negative ions are important in areas like plasma physics, astrophysics, and medicine. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PANIONS project aims to improve our understanding of negative ions from atomic to cosmic scales. Specifically, it will train doctoral candidates in how anions behave in different settings, from interstellar clouds to planetary surfaces. This work is expected to deepen fundamental science and pave the way for innovations in energy, space, and medicine.

Objective

The structures of atoms and positive ions are well known for more than 100 years. In contrast, negative ions are less well understood as they are much more difficult to investigate and detect. This is because their binding energies are very small, and only a handful of them have excited states with the same parity as the ground state. Hence, traditional spectroscopic methods cannot be applied to most negative ions, leaving them poorly characterised despite their importance for many scientific and technological applications.

The PANIONS Doctoral Network aims at substantially advancing our understanding of negative ions beyond the state-of-the-art from atomic to cosmic scales and bridging the gap between fundamental science and applications. Our interdisciplinary approach will be implemented by 14 DCs employing advanced theoretical models and sophisticated experimental methods. Key properties of atomic and molecular anions and their interactions with other particles will be investigated to fully describe negative ions in a variety of environments, from vacuum to plasmas, interstellar clouds and planetary surfaces. This ambitious research and training programme is only possible through a collaborative effort of a pan-European consortium of scientific excellence with access to a range of experimental facilities and the involvement of innovative companies with complementary expertise.

Exploiting the full potential of the scientific discoveries requires a structured training programme to equip the next generation of experts in negative ions with advanced scientific and transferable skills. Acquiring a comprehensive skillset that is relevant to essentially any field of advanced science and technology, will prepare the recruited DCs for future careers in academia and industry. In the long-term, PANIONS will unleash various applications of negative ions with a profound impact on how we generate energy, investigate our universe, and on medical applications.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN - HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-DN-01

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Coordinator

GOETEBORGS UNIVERSITET
Net EU contribution
€ 324 630,00
Address
VASAPARKEN
405 30 Goeteborg
Sweden
Region
Södra Sverige Västsverige Västra Götalands län
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data

Participants (10)

Partners (16)