Tags: Physical Seminar

Electrospray ionization and ion-trapping methods of mass spectrometry have significantly improved our ability to study gas-phase ion chemistry, and to determine the intrinsic structure and reactivity of metal ions and metal ion complexes. Ion traps with multi-dimensional (MSn) tandem mass spectrometry capabilities are versatile gas-phase "laboratories" within which ions can be manipulated and studied. Ion traps can also function as “sample…

Weak magnetic fields (< 30 mT) can have a profound influence on radical pair reactions. This is, at first sight, puzzling since the magnetic interactions are typically much smaller than the thermal energy at room temperature. The radical pair is created in a highly non-equilibrium state, however, displaying significant mixing between its singlet and triplet spin states. The mixing rate is altered if a magnetic field is present via the Zeeman…

Chemical applications of statistical mechanics typically assume that the electronic partition function is trivial, as all members of the system are in the ground electronic state. When this approximation breaks down (example: electrical conductors), it is necessary to combine statistical mechanics and electronic structure theory to determine the electronic partition function. This composite theory is called a "finite-temperature" theory. The…

Analysis of various studies conducted using shock tubes in order to determine products, mechanisms, as well as rate coefficients and kinetics. The use of shock tubes allow for highly reproducible and precise studies of high-temperature environments and allow for the study of the products and reactions caused with the introduction of these extreme conditions.