What Happens When Molecules Collide? (Measurement of a Pressure-Broadening Coefficient)
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Chemistry
Mentor Information
George McBane, Stephanie Schaertel
Department
Chemistry
Location
Kirkhof Center KC17
Start Date
11-4-2012 9:00 AM
Keywords
Environment, Mathematical Science, Physical Science
Abstract
In order for any chemical reaction to take place, molecules must collide with each other. Our goal is to closely examine what is happening when they do. What we are studying is a molecular parameter called the 'pressure-broadening coefficient'. What we want to know is: as we increase the pressure, how does the absorption spectrum change? As it turns out, the effect of pressure on spectral line width is measurable, and that is what the 'pressure-broadening coefficient' (PBC) quantifies. We are currently using a very precise, home-built laser spectrometer to determine the PBC for carbon monoxide with neon as the colliding gas, and we hope to use the same technique to determine the PBC for collisions with other molecules/collider pairs that have not yet been closely studied. The PBC can then be used to give information about energy transfer during the collision step of chemical reactions.
What Happens When Molecules Collide? (Measurement of a Pressure-Broadening Coefficient)
Kirkhof Center KC17
In order for any chemical reaction to take place, molecules must collide with each other. Our goal is to closely examine what is happening when they do. What we are studying is a molecular parameter called the 'pressure-broadening coefficient'. What we want to know is: as we increase the pressure, how does the absorption spectrum change? As it turns out, the effect of pressure on spectral line width is measurable, and that is what the 'pressure-broadening coefficient' (PBC) quantifies. We are currently using a very precise, home-built laser spectrometer to determine the PBC for carbon monoxide with neon as the colliding gas, and we hope to use the same technique to determine the PBC for collisions with other molecules/collider pairs that have not yet been closely studied. The PBC can then be used to give information about energy transfer during the collision step of chemical reactions.