DSM : Thesis SL-DSM-13-0488

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Research field

Radiation-matter interactions / Solid state physics, chemistry and nanosciences
Atomic and molecular physics / Solid state physics, chemistry and nanosciences

Title

Fragmentation studies of species of astrophysical interest:cationic clusters of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed by fused aromatic carbon rings. These molecules are usually planar with an honeycomb-like structure. From an astrophysical point of view, it is largely assumed that PAHs are the origin of unidentified aromatic bands observed in the interstellar medium. Thus they can constitute up to 20% of the interstellar carbon matter and play a crucial role in chemical physics of the interstellar medium. Astronomical observations also propose the presence of PAH clusters which are stacks of molecules bonded by van der Waals interactions. Lifecycle models allow to conclude that neutral PAH clusters can not survive in the interstellar medium, however, very small grains could consist of cationic clusters or metal-PAH complexes, which are sandwiches of PAHs and metallic atoms. During this PhD, cationic clusters as well as metal-PAH complexes will be studied experimentally. This work will be performed in collaboration with Henrik Cederquist's group from the Stockholm University and Marc Simon's group in Paris and theoretical support is given by a research group from the Laboratoire de Chimie Physique Quantiques of Toulouse. Clusters are produced by a gas aggregation source, and collisions with low-energy ions allow to probe their chemical and physical properties. Moreover, the development of a mobile cluster source will permit to consider further experiments at large facilities such as the DESIREE double electrostatic ring in Stockholm or synchrotron light facilities.

Location

Institut rayonnement et matière de Saclay
Centre de recherche sur les Ions, les Matériaux et la Photonique
Centre de recherche sur les Ions, les Matériaux et la Photonique
Centre : Saclay
Starting date : 01/10/2013

Contact person

Patrick ROUSSEAU
Université de Caen Basse-Normandie / CIMAP/Centre de Recherche sur les Ions, les Matériaux et la Photonique
CIMAP, Bd Henri Becquerel, BP5133, 14070 caen cedex 5
Phone : 02 31 45 48 06

More about

http://cimap.ensicaen.fr/spip.php?article22
http://cimap.ensicaen.fr/spip.php?rubrique82
http://cimap.ensicaen.fr/

University / Graduate School

Caen
Structure, Informations, Matière, Matériaux (SIMEM) - Caen -

Thesis supervisor

Lamri ADOUI
Université de Caen Basse-Normandie / CIMAP/Centre de Recherche sur les Ions, les Matériaux et la Photonique
CIMAP, Bd Henri Becquerel, BP5133, 14070 caen cedex 5


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