Formation and destruction of the OH- ion in ion-molecule reactions - experimental astrochemistry.

Student: Vanko Erik
Supervisor: Doc. RNDr. Radek Plašil, Ph.D.
ConsultantRNDr. Štěpán Roučka, Ph.D.
Status: Assigned

Abstract:

Negatively charged ions - anions - are present in various environments from planetary atmospheres to stellar photospheres to interstellar molecular clouds. Since the first astronomical discovery of an anion in 2006, the anion chemistry is a subject of intense experimental and theoretical research.

This work will focus on anion-molecule reactions that control the abundance of OH- in the interstellar environment. The experiments will utilize a radiofrequency ion trap with variable temperature from 10 to 300 K in conjunction with spectroscopic determination of OH- quantum states. We will study the formation, destruction, and isotopic substitution of OH- especially in the reactions of OH- with HD, H, CH4, and other species. The main result of the work will be the determination of the rate coefficients of the studied reactions in a broad range of temperatures below 300 K, where no experimental data are available. This information is important for astrochemical models and it may lead to a better understanding of the processes in the interstellar medium.

Literature:

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