Professor Parson is supported by a grant from the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program to study reactions of atoms and molecules by crossing one molecular beam with another. The products are to be detected by chemiluminescence and laser-induced fluorescence so that the energy states in which the products are formed can be determined. These studies will map out the elementary steps which make up the chemical reaction. Molecular beam studies of reactions of Group VA atoms, clusters, and hydrides with halogens and oxidizers will be carried out. Products will be detected by electronic chemiluminescence or laser-induced fluorescence, and the Group VA molecular beam composition will be manipulated by a combination of thermal, electric discharge, and photodissociation techniques. The results should be relevant to understanding mechanisms in bulk reaction systems. In addition to identifying important elementary steps, single collision studies will provide information about the disposal of reaction energy in products. By accessing different potential surfaces with variable collision energy, major characteristics of those surfaces can be inferred.
