Fundamental processes in isolated systems

Studying species isolated from substrates or the environment allows access to the basic quantum mechanical nature of matter – electronic and vibrational energy levels, yielding insight into structure and dynamics. Species can range from atoms and simple molecules to ions, radicals, biomolecules, clusters, nanoparticles and species dissolved in solution.

Light – matter interaction is key to understanding our world, ranging from the quantum world of electrons, atoms and molecules to interstellar neutral and ionic species. Information about this wide variety of isolated species is conveyed to us by the absorption of light, leading to excitation of electronic and nuclear motion and yielding knowledge of the chemical species, electronic energy levels, electron and nuclear dynamics and chemical reactivity. Measurements performed in the Fundamental Processes in Isolated Systems section are targeted at this key interaction and further understanding the basic properties of simple forms of matter isolated from any interacting environment. Studying fundamental building blocks of matter isolated from the environment allows access to their unperturbed electronic energy levels which can be used to validate and improve quantum mechanical theoretical calculations and models leading to a deeper insight into the forces driving chemical reactions and the structure and properties of materials.