Gingell, Jonathan Matthew; (1998) A spectroscopic study of selected atmospheric and astrophysical molecules. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This thesis presents the results of spectroscopic investigations of several molecules relevant to atmospheric physics and astrophysics. The experimental techniques of photoabsorption and electron energy loss spectroscopy have been used. Critical comparisons are made with the results of other studies, both experimental and theoretical, where available. The atmospheric molecules studied were ozone, selected chlorine oxides, and some simple hydrocarbons such as methane. In addition to their significance in the Earth's ozone depletion problem, some of these compounds are also present in other planetary atmospheres. Molecules studied out of astrophysical interest include formamide, benzyl alcohol and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These compounds have all been reported in the interstellar medium, whilst simple amides have also been discovered in the chemical compositions of comets. Studies of formamide and benzyl alcohol are also relevant to an emerging field of study - that of electron scattering from liquid surfaces. New spectral information has been obtained for each of the molecules studied. The thesis is arranged in nine chapters. The first discusses the structure and spectroscopy of polyatomic molecules, including those theoretical concepts relevant to the experimental scope of this work. The next chapter describes in detail the apparatus used to obtain the experimental results. The third chapter investigates the spectroscopy of simple molecular targets, allowing comparisons with earlier studies to validate the techniques and equipment used. Chapters 4-8 present the results obtained for the molecules studied using the different techniques; the results are shown to be in good agreement with previous data, where available. The thesis concludes with chapter nine, a summary of all the results and suggestions for future investigations are proposed.

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