PIER Seed Project funded

25 July, 2022

PIER Seed Project funds were awarded to Dr. Giulio Maria Rossi

Norbornadiene molecule pumped by sub-cycle
optical waveform and probed by soft X-Ray
isolated attosecond pulses.

Dr. Giulio Maria Rossi and Dr. Michael Martins from the University of Hamburg were successful in obtaining funding from the PIER Idea Fund to carry out research on "Attosecond dynamics in norbornadiene/quadricyclane photoswitches" (PIER Seed Project PIF-2022-07). The project aims to realise an attosecond transient absorption apparatus based on an optical sub-cycle pump and an isolated attosecond probe pulse tuned to the K-edge of carbon. The apparatus will allow organic molecules to be measured in the gas phase. The norbornadiene/quadricyclane transition is particularly interesting both for fundamental reasons, as the dynamics of the [2+2]-cycloaddition reaction are not fully known, and for its potential applications in solar energy storage systems.

Reference
Attosecond Dynamics in Norbornadiene/Quadricyclane Photoswitches - Project Description; List of PIER Seed Project funded in 2022