In this project in the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Clouthier will continue to study the electronic spectroscopy of highly reactive intermediates in supersonic expansions. His experimental work will be supplemented by ab initio calculations of spectroscopic parameters. Systems chosen for examination include carbenes and their germanium analogs (e.g., GeF2 or HGeCl) as well as HCOCN and PO2. In the past Clouthier has been instrumental in developing pyrolysis jet and pulsed discharge jet sources and using them to produce and analyze spectra of such transient species. %%% It is important to establish sensitive methods for detecting and characterizing reactive species in order to optimize industrial processes. The most useful analytical methods for studying reactive molecules in industrial systems are those that can be applied in situ. The spectroscopic tools applied in this project, laser-induced fluorescence in particular, are very sensitive methods for detecting the transient chemical species which participate in such processes as combustion or chemical vapor deposition, which is used in the manufacture of semiconductors.
