Frankfurt 2006 – scientific programme
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MO: Molekülphysik
MO 59: Poster: Experimental Techniques
MO 59.2: Poster
Thursday, March 16, 2006, 16:30–18:30, Labsaal
Alternate Gradient Focusing and Deceleration of large molecules — •Jochen Küpper, Kirstin Wohlfart, Frank Filsinger, Hendrick L. Bethlem, Henrik Haak, and Gerard Meijer — Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Berlin
Over the last years fascinating progress has been made in the spectroscopy of large molecules, e. g. the building blocks of life [1]. Such studies allow a detailed understandig of the intrinsic physical and chemical properties of large, modular molecules. The preparation of cold, isolated samples of large molecules and the manipulation of their external degrees of freedom allow further investigations using high-resolution spectroscopy or scattering experiments. Our group has been developing methods to decelerate and store neutral molecules using switched electric fields [2]. Here we show how these techniques can be applied to large molecules, i. e. molecules of biological relevance, for which all low-lying states are practically high-field seeking. Using a novel, modular experiment for the Alternate Gradient deceleration and trapping of molecules in high-field seeking states metastable CO and benzonitrile (C7H5N) have been decelerated. The results of these experiments are compared to simulations and further experiments on the manipulation of the external degress of freedom of benzonitrile and large, modular molecules are discussed.
[1] Special issue "‘Biomolecules in the gasphase"’ Eur. Phys. J. D 20(3), 309–626 (2002); Special issue "‘Bioactive molecules in the gasphase"’ Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 6(10), 2543–2890 (2004)
[2] H.L. Bethlem und G. Meijer, Int. Rev. Phys. Chem. 22, 73–128 (2003)