We started using a new experimental machine, and tested it by studying the photodissociation of oxygen molecules. We looked into different product channels and developed a new detection scheme for oxygen atoms in the ground state. The results of this study were published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Afterwards, we started working with the Zeeman decelerator to investigate molecular collisions in a controlled way. We managed to manipulate the velocity and quantum state of carbon atoms, and to detect them with low recoil velocities in order to be able to perform high-resolution scattering studies. We did this by implementing a VUV-based near-threshold ionization scheme. When we were able to control and detect the carbon atoms well, we investigated controlled inelastic collisions between these atoms and helium atoms or hydrogen molecules. We could precisely tune the collision energy, and investigate the outcome of the collision as function of energy. We did this by recording the angular scattering distributions of the scattered carbon atoms. The first results are published in a peer-reviewed journal, and further results will be published in the future.
We also investigated inelastic collisions in different systems, and were able to get a better understanding of specific molecular dynamics underlying the scattering process. Some results are already published in a peer-reviewed journal, and another paper will be written in the near future.
For the last part of this project, we for the first time investigated reactive collisions between sulfur atoms and hydrogen molecules using our experimental approach. Investigating reactive scattering is even more challenging than inelastic scattering, but we managed to see the first signals and to record the first angular scattering distributions of the reaction products. We developed new analysis methods and implemented new ways to record the data, in order to be able to extract more information from the measurements. We will continue this research after the end of this project.
The results of this project were disseminated in several publications, and more publications are on the way. Moreover, results were presented at multiple national and international conferences. In addition, the researcher gave guest lectures at a high school and seminars for students to engage a broader audience for our research. She will moreover participate in an upcoming Open Day of the faculty, where the public can visit the lab.
