Instrumentation for Gas-Phase Action Spectroscopy of Anions

Ashworth, Eleanor K. (2025) Instrumentation for Gas-Phase Action Spectroscopy of Anions. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Gas-phase experiments are designed to probe molecules in isolation, negating contributions from solvent and packing interactions present in the condensed phase. Thus, gas-phase experiments are bene_cial for two main reasons: (i) the molecule's inherent properties/intrinsic dynamics are not perturbed by external interactions, and (ii) the isolation of molecules allows for straightforward comparison with quantum chemical calculations. For experiments using conventional laboratory lasers, molecular anions are appealing targets for study because they do not require multiphoton ionisation schemes, and they provide spectroscopic details on the corresponding neutral molecules. This thesis describes the design and operation of a modular instrument, named PASTA (Photoinduced Action Spectroscopy Targeting Anions), designed to perform high-throughput photoelectron and photodetachment spectroscopy of gas-phase anions, with future provision for isomer-selective and time-resolved spectroscopy. Current capabilities are demonstrated through probing the spectroscopy of possible interstellar anions, with experimental measurements supported by quantum chemical calculations. Additionally, this thesis also discusses the stabilisation mechanisms of astrochemically-relevant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the simulation of their infrared spectra via quantum chemical calculations.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Depositing User:	Chris White
Date Deposited:	09 Jun 2025 09:56
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2025 09:56
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/99403
DOI:

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