Speaker
Ruth Plathe
(Australian Synchrotron)
Description
Laser photolysis is a new capability that is presently being added to the THz/Far-IR beamline. This technique will allow our users to perform pioneering spectroscopic studies at ultra-high spectral resolution on gaseous molecules of astrophysical interest; it will also enable our users to study photochemical changes in condensed-phase, solid and biological systems after or during laser irradiation.[1][2]
The addition of lasers will also allow a host of sunlight driven reactions to be studied, providing a source of radicals such as OH or halogens.[3]
We currently have to two lasers: A 40 W cw CO2 laser from Monash University, operating at 10.6 μm, and, a 10 Hz pulsed 480 mJ Nd:Yag Surelite Continuum laser from La Trobe University, operating at 1064, 532, 355 and 266 nm
A photolysis gas cell is also available for use. It is suitable for creating steady-state chemical populations with the laser, which can then be probed by the Synchrotron source. We are the only THz beamline with these capabilities.
REFERENCES
[1] J Nishii et al, “Photochemical reactions in GeO2-SiO2 glasses induced by ultraviolet irradiation: Comparision between Hg lamp and excimer laser” Physical Review B 52.3 (1995): 1661.
[2] Kaiser, Ralf I., et al. "Untangling the chemical evolution of Titan's atmosphere and surface–from homogeneous to heterogeneous chemistry." Faraday discussions 147 (2010): 429-478.
[3] W.J.R. French, “Hydroxyl Airglow Temperatures above Davis Station, Antarctica”, University of Tasmania, Australian Antarctic Division (2002)
Primary author
Ruth Plathe
(Australian Synchrotron)
Co-author
Dr
Dominique Appadoo
(The Australian Synchrotron)
