Applications are invited for an 18 month post-doctoral position at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. The molecular dynamics group is employing non-linear double-resonant four-wave mixing spectroscopy to study the electronic structure of small molecules and radicals. The research focus of the project is on the chemical bonding of small heteronuclear molecules and clusters containing transition metal atoms such as zinc, copper, palladium and platinum. The aim is to unveil detailed catalytic reaction mechanisms.
In contrast to more conventional spectroscopic methods, we apply non-linear four-wave mixing because we and others have shown that the method is (i) sufficiently sensitive in the low density environment of a molecular beam, (ii) applicable to non-fluorescing molecules and molecules exhibiting a short lifetime in the excited state and (iii) provides the possibility of optical-optical double resonance investigations. The latter feature is a significant advantage for the study of dense and complex spectra typically encountered for transition metal compounds. In addition, conventional methods like laser-induced fluorescence, cavity-ring down and resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization are available in our laboratories.
The generation of the heteronuclear transition metal species in the molecular beam will be performed by using a laser-vaporization source, either consisting of a rod or disk target. To characterize and optimize the sources for specific transitions metal species, fs-ionization in combination with a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer is available. For four-wave mixing spectroscopy three high-resolution dye lasers are utilized in a well optimized optical setup. The experimental findings are further analyzed by performing state-of-the-art ab initio computations (MOLPRO).
Prerequisites: Ph.D. degree in physics, chemistry or related areas. The candidate is expected to have experience with ns pulsed lasers, vacuum technology and gas phase spectroscopy. Knowledge on cluster generation by applying laser-vaporization sources would be advantageous. The candidate will be involved in co-supervising a PhD student assigned to the same project.
The position is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The gross yearly salary in the first year is around 85'000 CHF.
Please apply online by visiting http://www.psi.ch/pa/offenestellen/0781-1
For further information please contact Dr. Peter Radi, phone +41 56 310 41 27
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