Atomic and Molecular Physics
The atomic and molecular physics experiments within CAMS will consist of low energy electron and positron scattering. Cross sections for various scattering processes and targets will be measured, giving us new information about the fundamental interactions between matter and antimatter. Information from the experiments ranges from basic to applied science, testing our understanding of quantum physics by investigating processes such as positron scattering from helium and giving information important for technological and biological processes, such as electron scattering from radicals or positron scattering from biomolecules. The experiments will be conducted using a variety of different apparatus, located in the various Centre nodes. The menu on the right has links to information about these experiments.
Positron scattering experiments will all be conducted at the APBF. In these experiments positron scattering takes place in a strong magnetic field, up to 500 gauss. Techniques that measure the redistribution of energy in the positron beam will be used to measure the cross sections for different scattering conditions. This powerful technique was developed at UCSD and has been used by that group (in collaboration with Centre researchers James Sullivan and Steve Buckman) to make the first state selective excitation measurements in positron scattering.
Two nodes of CAMS have low energy electron scattering experiments, ANU and Flinders. They range from studies of excitation and ionisation of atoms and molecules, absolute cross section measurements of molecules with biological and technological interest and studies of electron collisions with radicals.
More information about atomic and molecular physics in the Centre can be found using the links on the right of the page.
