Tel: 1-506-447-3115
Fax: 1-506-453-4981
E-mail: jneville@unb.ca

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Research Programme

My research programme involves the study of the inner-shell spectroscopy and subsequent relaxation processes of core-excited molecules using time-of-flight mass spectrometry, Auger electron spectroscopy and excitation by both photoabsorption and electron impact. Core excitation occurs in the VUV and X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and typically results in considerable ionisation and fragmentation of the absorbing molecule. A quantitative understanding of the inner-shell spectroscopy of molecules has applications as diverse as the accurate modelling of damage to tissue as a result of radiation exposure and an understanding of the chemistry of the upper atmosphere.

Energy analysis of the Auger electrons emitted during the relaxation of the core excited molecule is used to identify the electronic state of the resulting cation. Details of the dynamics of the relaxation process and the ionic fragmentation of the resulting cation are obtained by the coincident detection of electrons and multiple fragment ions produced from the same core-excitation event. The experimental investigations are complemented by electronic structure calculations and numerical simulations to aid in the interpretation of the spectroscopic results and identify ionic fragmentation processes.

Photoabsorption studies are performed at the Canadian Synchrotron Radiation Facility, located at the Synchrotron Radiation Center near Madison, Wisconsin. Synchrotrons provide intense and tunable radiation across the entire electromagnetic spectrum and are used in many diverse areas of science. They are of particular importance for inner-shell spectroscopy studies because no other tunable photon source is available at such high photon energies. Laboratory based core-excitation experiments will be performed using a planned high-energy electron impact spectrometer. This will make possible not only "photoabsorption" measurements analogous to the synchrotron studies but also the study of dipole-forbidden processes that do not occur with photon absorption.

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