In this award, funded by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Prof. Terry A. Miller of Ohio State University and his post-doctoral and graduate research students will investigate the spectroscopy of a series of alkoxy and peroxy radicals. In addition, they will carry out extensive experimental investigations of conical intersections in a small number of molecules. The goals of the first experiments are to provide diagnostic markers for radical molecules that are important in combustion and atmospheric chemistry, while the latter experiments will provide data that will help chemists understand the ways in which conical intersections influence chemical reactions.
Besides the broader scientific impacts of the proposed studies, the young researchers working on these projects will acquire excellent training in physical chemistry - gaining invaluable experience in both sophisticated experimental and theoretical methods.
