The Photon Collisions unit undertakes research using vacuum ultraviolet photons to probe the energy structure of atoms and molecules. This research has both an intrinsic interest, in the understanding of the internal energy structure of atoms and molecules, and an applied interest in the use of the data for atmospheric, photochemical and astrophysical calculations. The research program covers both experimental and theoretical aspects of photoabsorption, photodissociation and fluorescence excitation spectroscopy. At the present time research has concentrated on molecular oxygen as this molecule exhibits many textbook examples of quantum physics that are also applicable to other molecules, and because of its importance to the world's atmospheric photochemistry.

MAIN PURSUITS

1. Close Coupled Spectroscopy
2. Ultra Violet Laser Physics