Instruments in our laboratory are primarily used to study fundamental processes that occur in the atmosphere via the characterization of the chemical and physical properties of atmospheric trace species. Laboratory instruments are used in the development of experimental methods to measure the reactivity and photochemistry, as well as, the optical and physical properties of stable, transient, and radical species. The experimental apparatus and methods used in our laboratory are designed to selectively detect species with high sensitivity under various temperature and pressure conditions on time scales ranging from nanoseconds to hours. No individual instrument is, however, capable of meeting all the requirements necessary to study all processes. Therefore, the instruments described below are commonly used in combination to develop a more comprehensive picture for a specific species or process.
| Abbreviation | Name | Measurement | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRDS | Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy | Temperature and pressure dependent reaction rate coefficients, reaction product yields, absorption spectra, photolysis quantum yields | Jim Burkholder |
| ESI-Q-MS | Electrospray Ionization Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer | Aqueous-phase chemistry, reaction mechanisms and product yields | Jim Burkholder |
| FTIR | Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer | Infrared absorption spectra | Jim Burkholder |
| FTIR-DRIFTS | Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy | Infrared absorption spectra of powdered solid samples | Jim Burkholder |
| GC/(FID-EC)/MS | Gas Chromatography (Flame Ionization Detection-Electron Capture) Mass Spectrometer | Relative Rate (RR) kinetic measurements, Reaction product measurements, assessment of gas sample purity | Jim Burkholder |
| Nr | Total Reactive Nitrogen | Measurement of all nitrogen-containing compounds except N2 and N2O for emissions and calibration measurements | Jim Roberts |
| PLP-LIF | Pulsed Laser Photolysis-Laser Induced Fluorescence | Absolute kinetic measurements | Jim Burkholder |
| PLP-RF | Pulsed Laser Photolysis-Resonance Fluorescence | Absolute reaction rate coefficients, photolysis quantum yields | Jim Burkholder |
| PTR-MS | Proton Transfer Mass Spectrometer | Detection of VOCs | Jim Burkholder |
| Q-CIMS | Quadrupole Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer | Direct temperature and pressure kinetics measurements, gas phase and heterogeneous chemistry: Antarctic ozone hole studies | Jim Burkholder |
| RR | Relative Rate Reactor | Temperature and pressure dependent reaction rate coefficients (OH, Cl, O3, and NO3), reaction mechanisms, reaction product yields | Jim Burkholder |
| TOC | Total Organic Carbon | Absolute measurement of VOC compounds as CO2 in laboratory and ambient systems | Jim Roberts |
| UV(CCD)/vis Spectrometer | Ultra-violet/visible Spectrometer with Charge Coupled Device | Absorption spectra, reaction mechanisms and product yields | Jim Burkholder |