This award supports the participation of 14 U.S. scientists in a U.S.-Japan Seminar on Dynamics, Photophysical and Photochemical Events Involving Clusters, to be held in Hawaii December 16-19, 1993. The co-organizers are Professor A. W. Castleman, Jr. of Pennsylvania State University and Professor Tamotsu Kondow of the University of Tokyo. In addition to the U.S. and Japanese participants, a scientist from Germany has been invited. During the last decade or so, there has been a dramatic growth of activity in the field of cluster research. Reference to clusters permeates the literature of a very broad cross section of basic and applied science from that dealing with condensed matter and surfaces to interstellar space. In particular, clusters provide a unique way of investigating properties of matter at different degrees of aggregation and therefore yield information on changing properties and reactivity that serves to bridge the gas and condensed state. The seminar is organized around eight general topics in the area of the dynamics of isolated cluster systems: electronic effects; electron solvation; cluster spectroscopy and structure; cluster properties, structure, and formation; dynamics and photophysical events; reactions in hydrogen bonded and van Der Waals systems; reactions of semiconcuctor and metallic systems; and collisions with surfaces and condensed matter. This meeting, which will emphasize recent advances and develop ideas for future research direction, should lead to collaborative research activities between U.S. and Japanese scientists in this important field.
