Multiply negatively charged aluminium clusters and fullerenes [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Noelle Walsh

Sujets

• Physik

Informations

• Publié par: ernst-moritz-arndt-universitat_greifswald
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 18
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 12 Mo

Extrait

Multiply-negatively charged
aluminium clusters and fullerenes
I n a u g u r a l d i s s e r t a t i o n
zur
Erlangung des akademischen Grades eines
Doktors der Naturwissenschaften
der
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakult¨at
der
Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universit¨at Greifswald
vorgelegt von
Noelle Walsh
geboren am 28.12.1977
in Dublin, Irland
Greifswald, Juli 2008Dekan: Prof. Dr. Klaus Fesser
1. Gutachter:Prof. Dr. Lutz Schweikhard
2. Gutachter:Prof. Dr. Eleanor Campbell
Tag der Promotion:24.10.08Hiermit erkl¨are ich, daß diese Arbeit bisher von mir weder an der
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakult¨at der Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universit¨at
Greifswald noch einer anderen wissenschaftlichen Einrichtung zum Zwecke der Promotion
eingereicht wurde. Ferner erkl¨are ich, daß ich diese Arbeit selbst¨andig verfaßt und keine
anderen als die darin angegebenen Hilfsmittel benutzt habe.
.........................................To my parentsPreface
The completion of a PhD is about so much more than the title that one hopes to earn.
The aim of a PhD is to produce a competent, independent, discerning researcher who is
capable of planning and executing experiments, performing data analysis and interpreting
experimental results. He/She should also be capable of solving problems as they arise,
wherever they arise(not just in the laboratory) and they must be capable of participating in
scientific discussion. However, the PhD thesis itself does not adequately reflect the amount
of work, time, effort and often sacrifice that was invested during the 3-5 years of study that
preceded its existence. Neither does it reflect the broad ‘peripheral’ experience that one
obtains, much of which would not be associated directly with a PhD.
During the course of my PhD I have learned to plan and execute experiments, deal
with the unforeseen and to take responsibility for the equipment and the laboratory.
The laboratory experiences of an experimentalist are rarely predictable, new problems or
obstacles always arise, delays are always incurred and just when you think that there is
nothing left to go wrong.. something does!! Ironically, that in itself is the only consistency
which can be expected - things will never run smoothly, the unforeseen will always occur!!
Typical problems for an experimental physicist include hardware problems, software
problems or human errors. Indeed more often than not, everything seems to go wrong
at the same time and it usually prompts one to question why you are standing in the
laboratory fighting with an apparatus at such an ungodly hour when(at least from your
point of view) the rest of your hemisphere have been enjoying the nice, long, warm, sunny,
summer evening. Unfortunately, sometimes distance from the laboratory does not mean
distance from the apparatus. As the PhD progresses one tends to experience a certain(some
would consider, normal) degree of obsessiveness - this becomes particularly disturbing when
the apparatus suddenly falls silent, you realise that you neither hear the vacuum pumps
northecoolingwaterandyouproceedtorecover thesystem... allfromyournicewarmbed...
Thankfully, the whole PhD does not revolve around the laboratory. It has also been
possible for me to attend conferences, meet new people, see new places and meet experts in
my field. All of these learning experiences are invaluable to the end ’PhD’ product. And on
those days when things go well in the lab you see your data unfold before your eyes and
you have the opportunity to remind yourself why you do what you do.
This thesis is divided into several sections. Chapter one is an introductory chapter that
is written with the aim of providing a brief overview of cluster physics and its applications
in every day life. It has been written with the intention of being accessible to all those
with an interest in science. Chapter two attempts to provide a brief overview of the most
12
important aspects of cluster physics that will be called upon in later chapters. Chapter
three discusses the physics of the Penning Trap and describes different techniques that fall
under the title of ”ion trapping”. Chapter four discusses the ClusterTrap apparatus used
in these experiments. The next three chapters(5,6 and 7) discuss some of the experimental
data obtained during my PhD research. They focus on the generation of multiply-charged
ions and seek to compare the properties of different cluster polyanions with each other.