News:
The group is pursuing research in atomic collision physics dealing with interactions involving atomic ions in low and high charge states, molecules and molecular ions, clusters and fullerenes (C60), clusters of fullerenes (C60)n, and complex molecular ions such as bio-molecular ions.  The research is mainly experimental, but we do also have activities in theoretical model developments relating to the experimental work. The main aim of the research is to help to build a better understanding of electron- and energy transfer processes in binary interactions between various kinds of atomic systems. Although our main interest here is to understand the fundamental processes there are, in addition, clear links to some aspects of more applied character. It is in particular interesting to relate the results for electron transfer between individual fullerenes on the femtosecond time scale (given by the interaction time in the experiments) with current problems of establishing efficient electronic contacts between different nanoelectronic devices. Further, our results on energy transfer to single complex molecules may be helpful for understanding the details of radiation damage process in bio-molecules on the single molecular level.

In our work on fast ion-atom and fast ion-molecule collisions we focus on fundamental aspects of momentum transfer processes. Recent examples are the Young-slit type of experiment in fast proton-H2 collisions where the two nuclei of the H2-molecules serve as the double slit.

The experiments are performed at Stockholm University, at Aarhus University in Denmark, and at the CEA-CIRIL/GANIL facility in Caen, France. We are members of the ITS LEIF network (6th EU Framework Program) starting in 2006.

The main activity of the group during the coming years will be centred around a new facility 'DESIREE'. DESIREE is a Double ElectroStatic Ion Ring ExpEriment, which as the name suggests consists of two storage rings with a common merging section for studies of ion-ion collisions down to the 10 meV energy range. The whole ring complex will be cooled by cryogenerators down to the 10 Kelvin range and by storing relaxation of the ions can take place before the experiment is started. The construction and the experimental program at DESIREE is a joint venture of the Physics Department and the Manne Siegbahn Laboratory at Stockholm University. Part of the work related to DESIREE will be performed within the framework of the ITS LEIF network.