In this project in Experimental Physical Chemistry, Professor Donald W. Setser of Kansas State University will study gas phase reactions involving well-defined quantum states of both reactant and product molecules. Laser excitation techniques permit selective excitation of reaction pathways along excited state potential surfaces. As a new initiative, transition metals reacting with halogens and with oxygen will be studied by flow reactor methods. %%% It is now possible to steer the course of chemical reactions by using lasers to direct atoms and molecules to desired initial energy states. The work of Prof. Setser (Kansas State University) greatly advances the state of this technique, widening the scope of "steerable" reactions to include metals important in catalyis.
