[MOS] TODAY March 15, 2011

[Zina M Queen]

Seminar on


Modern Optics and Spectroscopy

Understanding Aerosols on a Molecular level

Ruth Signorell,
University of British Columbia


Tuesday, March 15, 2011

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

The study of aerosol particles with sizes in the submicron range is an interdisciplinary endeavour at the junction of atmospheric chemistry, astrophysics, and the nanosciences. The role of aerosols in atmospheric processes, as industrial pollutants, in interstellar chemistry, and as drug delivery systems has become an increasingly important issue in recent years. To understand the impact of aerosols it is crucial to study the processes by which they are formed, their physical properties, and their chemical composition and reactivity.  The present contribution focuses on the influence of intrinsic particle properties, such as shape, size or architecture, on the infrared optical properties of aerosol particles. Intrinsic particle properties manifest themselves in mid-infrared extinction spectra by modifying the structure of vibrational bands. We ultimately aim at unravelling the microscopic origin of the characteristic patterns found in the spectra of these weakly bound molecular aggregates. To this end, we compare our experimental results with model calculations which combine vibrational quantum dynamics with molecular dynamics simulations.


Grier Room, MIT Bldg 34-401
Refreshments served after the lecture
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