Long & Medium-Term Research: F2 and HF Photochemistry and Spectroscopy in Rare Gas Matrices Using Synchrotron Radiation This award is under the Long and Medium-Term Research at Foreign Centers of Excellence Program, which enables U.S. scientists and engineers to conduct three to twelve months of research abroad at research centers of proven excellence. The program's awards provide opportunities for joint research, and the use of unique or complementary facilities, expertise and experimental conditions abroad. This award will support a five-month postdoctoral research visit by Dr. William G. Lawrence of the University of California, Irvine with Professor N. Schwentner of the Freie Universitat Berlin. The researchers will focus on the study of the photodissociation dynamics of HF and F2 in argon and neon matrices. The photodissociation of halogens and halogen halides in rare gas solids presents one of the simplest systems for studying molecular dynamics in condensed phase. Using vacuum ultraviolet radiation from the Berlin Synchrotron facility BESSY, they propose to study the photodissociation dynamics of HF and F2 in argon and neon matrices. The synchrotron source can be used for dissociation of F2 and HF and also for detection of H and F atoms using photo- induced charge transfer emmision. Using this technique, the mobility of F and H atoms after photodissociation will be measured. These studies will also include spectroscopy of the NeF excimer in solid neon, and an evaluation of the ArF excimer in neon as a solid sate excimer laser medium. This award recommendation provides funds to cover international travel and a stipend for five months.
