Atomic success

SEVENTY years after researchers Massey and Mohr pioneered the “close coupling” approach to electron-atom collisions, a team of Murdoch researchers have realised the full potential for this concept.

. "We have understood the process of two atomic particles hitting one another for nearly eighty years, which has formed the basis for work in the Quantum Mechanics field. However, predicting the behaviour of three or more atoms simultaneously interacting is still largely unknown," said Professor Andris Stelbovics.

Professor Andris Stelbovics and Professor Igor Bray teamed up in 2001 to tackle the big question of why certain atoms collide into one another and release energy in a particular way in complex, natural systems.

This work, which was reported in Physical Review Letters earlier this year, unravels a seventy-year old mystery for atomic physicists.

Results from these investigations have revealed that with minor modifications, Massey and Mohr’s theory from the 1930s can be used to accurately predict the outcome of break up processes of atomic collisions.

"These collisions are happening everywhere, in and around us, and there are global implications for this research," said Professor Bray.

The benefits of increasing understanding of atomic collisions included environmentally friendly lighting, better lasers, understanding of atmospheric and astrophysical evolution, and the possibility of using fusion as a new clean energy source.”

The Murdoch team works closely with a range of organisations including NASA, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the lighting multi-national Osram-Sylvania.

Professors Stelbovics and Bray are funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC). Professors Stelbovics and Bray have been invited to speak at conferences around the world about their work in atomic collisions. Professor Bray has also been appointed to the ARC Physics, Chemistry and Geoscience Advisory Committee and to the Editorial Board of the Journal of Physics B.