Overview
The project will investigate how radicals and ions react at very low temperatures, using state-of-the-art instruments we have built and characterised over the past several years. External fields and laser-cooling methods will be employed to control the properties of reactants, coupled with sensitive detection methods for monitoring the formation of products. Target reactions will include processes of astrophysical and atmospheric importance,
About this opportunity
Gas-phase radicals (atoms or molecules with an unpaired electron) and ions (atoms or molecules with a net charge) are hugely influential in numerous areas of research. They are responsible for much of the chemistry occurring in the atmosphere, the interstellar medium, in plasmas, and in combustion processes. However, very few existing experimental methods can measure gas-phase radical or ion processes under cold and controlled conditions, resulting in significant unanswered questions across multiple fields. In the absence of experimental measurements, untested assumptions are included in databases and models, hindering the accuracy of their predictions. In this project, you will work on addressing this long-standing issue.
We use cold conditions and external fields to explore how reactive collisions occur. Cold environments – typically temperatures less than 1 Kelvin – allow us to control the properties of reactants. By manipulating the reaction conditions, we can unravel the role different parameters play in determining the outcome of a reactive collision. We use a number of techniques – including laser cooling, ion trapping and the application of external fields – to investigate reactions between ions and neutral species. We sensitively probe the reaction products using imaging and time-of-flight mass spectrometry detection methods.
Using these experimental approaches for the study of gas-phase radicals and ions, you will study reactions in systems relevant to astrochemistry, atmospheric chemistry, and surface science. Measurements will be performed using a unique magnetic guide (developed to examine the reactions of neutral radicals) and a novel low-temperature ion trap (to study processes involving molecular ions).
The project will involve a combination of experimental measurements and simulations. You will work closely with experienced group members, whilst still being able to take ownership of the project. You will also have the opportunity to help shape the direction of the research, depending on your strengths and interests, and to visit the laboratories of our collaborators. Further information on our ongoing research projects can be found at https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/physics/research/condensed-matter-physics/heazlewood-group/