Node 8: Electron and positron driven processes

Electron, positron and photon interactions initiate and drive almost all the relevant chemical processes associated with:

• radiation and environmental chemistry
• plasma processing of semiconductors
• lasers and discharge lamps
• materials characterization
• planetary atmospheres and processes in the interstellar medium.

In order to understand these macroscopic chemical and physical processes we need an understanding of the fundamental interactions that underpin them at the microscopic level.  However, we presently have only a rudimentary understanding of such processes and this is, in many cases, limiting further development of our science and technology.

Significant advances are possible with a large scale collaborative effort that is prepared to cross discipline boundaries. Within this broad research area, Australia has many world-recognised research groups and individuals, in both experiment and theory.  There is a good record of collaboration amongst some groups in this Node, but distance and lack of funds has often limited resource and personnel sharing with common research goals.  Scattering is a common thread in diffraction methods and in these areas of investigation. This Node also has strong links to the questions posed in the Node 2, but with an array of different theoretical and experimental insights. Especially driving these areas of development are Buckman, Wang, Lohmann, Teubner, Sullivan, Bray, Stelbovics, Lawrance, Mitroy, Brunger, MacGillivray, Williams, Leckey, Fursa, Riley, Lewis, Gray, Hammond, Kheiferts and Lower.  

Particular additional recent areas of inquiry include:

• gas phase physics and chemistry
• radiation damage in biomolecules, new materials, atmospheric chemistry, pollution remediation, positron binding, antimatter chemistry, new technology discharge lamps and lasers
• condensed matter, surfaces and boundaries
• new novel materials, polymers, adsorbate studies, materials characterisation techniques, materials testing
• new generation experimental and theoretical techniques