Study of Photoionization and Photoactivation
Christian Alcaraz (Senior Researcher), Debora Scuderi (Prof), Claire Romanzin (Associate Prof), Roland Thissen (Senior Researcher)
Alumni: Yining Jiang (PhD)
This area focuses on the study of photoionization and photoactivation of small molecular species. The research aims to understand how photons interact with molecules, triggering ionization or activation processes. Often linked to issues in astrochemistry and biological chemistry, this work is made possible through collaborations with advanced facilities such as the SOLEIL Synchrotron.
Some key achievements of the group include:
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- Coupling of radical sources with a TOF-TOF spectrometer, correlating electrons and ions, which has enabled the spectroscopy of ions of transient or radical species, such as HC5N, C3Hx, or CH2.
- Verification of the presence of the CH3+ ion, as discovered by the JWST telescope, through PFI-ZEKE photoionization spectroscopy experiments with high-resolution VUV lasers.
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Astronomical emission spectrum recorded by JWST, compared with simulations of CH3+ under the following conditions (T=700K, FWHM=0.4 cm⁻¹). Residuals of the line-by-line fits are shown in the lower panel of the figure.
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- Studies on the photoreactivity of biomolecules and the synthesis of prebiotic molecules via IR photons, in collaboration with the CPSysBio and TheoSim groups at ICP. These studies include research on oxidative modifications of small sulfur-containing peptides (PhD thesis of Y. Jiang, 2019-22).
- Research on the photodesorption of astrophysically relevant ices, utilizing both X-rays and VUV photons produced by the SOLEIL Synchrotron.
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Collaborations
Chantal Houée-Levin (CPSysBio, ICP), Carine Clavaguéra (TheoSim, ICP), Mathieu Bertin and Jean-Hughes Fillon (MONARIS, Sorbonne University), Béranger Gans (ISMO, Paris-Saclay University), Gustavo Garcia (SOLEIL Synchrotron).