MEMBERS OF THE GROUP AND VISITORS

CURRENT MEMBERS       VISITORS       FORMER MEMBERS

CURRENT MEMBERS

Dr. Anita Dawes (Research Fellow) Design and construction of a portable vacuum system to study condensed phase molecular formation in astrophysical environments.
Application of analytical techniques involving VUV (synchrotron), UV-Vis and FTIR transmission spectroscopy. Application of RAIRS surface techniques are carried out with Dr. Robin Mukerji.

Ion irradiation of astrophysical ice analogues using ion sources at Queen's University Belfast (including a 10 GHz Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source). This work is carried out in collaboration with Prof. R.W. McCullough and Prof. Ian Williams at Queesn's University Belfast. Recent studies have involved ion irradiation of H₂O and CO₂ ices pertinent to the magnetospheric ion impact on the icy Jovian satellites. Photon irradiation of astrophysical ice analogues using the synchrotron radiation source at the University of Aarhus. This work is carried out in collaboration with Dr. S.V. Hoffmann. Irradiation of atmospheric ices will be carried out in collaboration with Dr. Paulo Limao-Vieira (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal). VUV spectroscopy of ices is also carried out at the synchrotron beamline providing information on the electronic structure of condensed phase species. Photon and electron irradiation of ices are to be carried out in the laboratory using a low energy electron gun and a microwave discharge UV lamp. See also Anita's web pages and full contact details.

Dr. Dagmar Jaksch (Research Fellow) Dagmar works on: FOOD SAFETY (Rapid analytical technique for determining microbial activity, and, Food preservation)

RADIATION DAMAGE OF BIOMOLECULES For a more detailed description, click here. (38 KB)

See also Dagmar's web pages and full contact details.

Dr. Robin Mukerji (Research Fellow) performs experiments which are designed to study the effect of ions, electrons and photons on the formation and reaction of molecules on astrophysical surfaces analogues. The surface analogues used in these investigations are graphite supported ices, formed by the condensation of molecules such as water (H₂O), ammonia (NH₃) and or carbon dioxide (CO₂). To perform these experiments, reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) techniques are employed. All experiments are performed in an UHV assembly incorporating a closed cycle liquid helium cryostat for performing experiments at cryogenic temperatures. This apparatus was originally commissioned by Professor Ralf Kaiser (University of Hawaii) and moved to The Open University in 2003. The current programme of experiments are performed in conjunction with Mike Davis and Dr. Anita Dawes. In addition to the surface experiments, similar studies are performed to study the chemical process within the ice when irradiated with the ions, electrons or photons, also using infrared spectroscopy. In addition to the ice experiments, microscopy experiments using AFM/STM techniques are performed to study the effect of radiation damage on biomolecules See also Robin's web pages and full contact details.

Dr. Jonathan Underwood (Lecturer) Jonathan's research interests include

• The development and application of ultrafast femtosecond laser techniques to the study and control of molecular dynamics in the gas and condensed phases.

• The use of strong non-resonant and non-perturbative shaped laser fields for the control of matter.

• Pump-probe femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy for the measurement of coupled charge and energy flow in molecules.

• The application of femtosecond non-linear spectroscopic techniques for the study of molecular dynamics in the condensed phases.

• Terahertz probing of condensed phase molecular dynamics.

See also Jonathan's web pages and full contact details.

Dr Philip Holtom (Research Fellow) works on

ASTROBIOLOGY: Electron, photon and ion induced molecular synthesis in simulated astrophysical environments.

UREY MILLER EXPERIMENT: Origins of Life and the synthesis of organic molecules in a simulated primitive planetary environment. See also Philip's web pages for further information and contact details.

Dr Paul Kendall (Research Fellow) works on

Liz Drage (Full-time Postgraduate Student) Liz works on:

Laboratory studies of Gases and Particles which are present in the terrestrial atmosphere, particularly those occuring naturally.

The effects of various stresses on the infrared reflectance of leaves. See also Liz's web pages and full contact details.

Eva Vasekova (Full-time Postgraduate Student) Eva works on plasma etching. Plasma etching is an essential process in the fabrication of integrated semiconductor circuits. However the gases presently used for the manufacture of semiconductors are known to have an adverse effect on the upper atmosphere. Therefore, we are interested in the replacement of these gases for plasma etching. We aim to acquire the data required for the modelling of the processes in plasma discharge using alternative gases. Investigated processes are basically the interactions of electrons and photons with ions and molecules. Another part of the project involves plasma etching using the alternative gases, followed by a surface analysis of the obtained samples. See also Eva's web pages and full contact details.

Sarah Webb (Full-time Postgraduate Student) Sarah works on:

SONOLUMINESCENCE - the art of creating light from sound For a more detailed description, click here. (27 KB)

See also Sarah's web pages and full contact details.

Mike Davis (Full-time Postgraduate Student) Mike is studying: THE EFFECTS OF ION, ELECTRON AND ULTRAVIOLET PHOTON IRRADIATION ON SIMULATED INTERSTELLAR DUST GRAINS.

These simulations consist of volatile ices (such as water, carbon dioxide and ammonia) condensed onto a surface and the observed effects include both the destruction of these ices and the formation of new organic molecules. The processes taking place can be studied to allow comparisons with those taking place in interstellar dust clouds. See also Mike's web pages and full contact details.

Bhalamurugan Sivaraman (Full-time Postgraduate Student) Bhala works on:

Research in Experimental Astrochemistry: studying ices of astrophysical interest, including the study of heavy molecules like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] in the interstellar medium, studying the rate of recombination of molecules in these environments.

Additional interests include working in Physics fundamentals.

See also Bhala's web pages and full contact details.

Malgorzata Smialek (Full-time Postgraduate Student)

I am investigating damage of DNA exposed to external factors such as UV light and low energy electrons. In my studies I am using gel electrophoresis and atomic force microscope methods to quantify the results obtained. 

See also Malgorzata's web pages and full contact details.

William Stevens (Part-time Postgraduate Student) William's research is related to Self-Replicating Systems. For further information, visit William's website at
 http://willsthings.mysite.freeserve.com/SRM/presentation.htm

Patrick Cahillane (Part-time Postgraduate Student) Patrick works on Radiation Induced Damage in Biomolecular systems, the aim being to characterise the effects of electron (thermal <20ev), ion and photon (uv) irradiation on component 'building block components' of DNA & RNA

Paul Burke (Part-time Postgraduate Student) Paul's research is related to ........ For further information, visit Paul's website at
 

VISITORS

Bobby Antony Bobby is involved in the calculation of electron impact collision cross sections using numerical analysis. We find various cross sections like total cross section, total elastic cross section, total inelastic cross section, total ionization cross section, sum of total electronic excitation cross section and differential elastic cross section. See also Bobby's web pages

Dr. Paulo Limao-Vieira

Paulo's research interests include:

    (i) electron transfer processes by atom-molecule collisions; dynamics of negative ions;

    (ii) mechanisms of radiation damage in cellular material by investigating electron and photon interactions with biomolecules;

    (iii) electron induced chemical processing of molecules on surfaces and gas phase;

    (iv) spectroscopic studies of aeronomic molecules related to global warming and ozone depletion and plasma etching;

    (v) spectrocopy of ices in the interstellar medium.

Paulo is Assistant Professor at The New University of Lisbon (Universidade Nova de Lisboa). You can email Paulo here.

He is also a member of the following EU networks:     EPIC;     COST;     EIPAM

and is involved in several international joint collaborations with, amongst others, the UK, Belgium, Spain, Slovakia and Germany.

Professor Hyuck Cho Professor Cho works on Electron Interactions with bio molecules. Professor Cho is based at Physics Department Chungnam National University, Korea


Professor Jan D Skalny Professor Skalny works on Experimental and Modelling studies leading to enhanced ozone generation, and is based at Comenius Univeristy, Bratislava, Slovakia.