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 |
---|---|---|---|
CCD UV/vis Spectrometer | Charge Coupled Device (2048x512); 0.5 m UV/vis spectrometer | Absorption spectra | Jim Burkholder |
CIMS | Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer | Temperature dependent reaction rate coefficients, reaction product yields, heterogeneous chemistry/uptake measurements | Jim Burkholder |
CRDS | Cavity Ring-down Spectroscopy | Temperature and pressure dependent reaction rate coefficient measurements, product yields, absorption spectra, photolysis quantum yields | Jim Burkholder |
Dye Lasers | ND-YAG Pumped Dye Lasers | Probe laser | Jim Burkholder |
ESI-MS | ElectroSpray Ionization Mass Spectrometer | Aqueous-phase chemistry, reaction mechanisms and product yields | Jim Burkholder |
Excimer Lasers | GAM-EX100, GAM-EX5A, LPX-200, Lextra, LP-308 | Photolysis laser | Jim Burkholder |
FTIR | Fourier Transform Spectrometer | High-resolution infrared absorption/emission spectra, absorption cross sections, reaction rate coefficients (RR), reaction product yields, reaction mechanisms | Jim Burkholder |
LIF | Laser Induced Flourescence | Temperature and pressure dependent reaction rate coefficient measurements, product yields, OH photolysis quantum yield | Jim Burkholder |
Nr | Total Reactive Nitrogen | Measurement of all nitrogen-containing compounds except N2 and N2O for emissions and calibration measurements | Jim Roberts |
PTM-RS | Proton Transfer Mass Spectrometer | Temperature dependent reaction rate coefficients, reaction product yields, heterogeneous chemistry/uptake measurements | Jim Burkholder |
RF | Atomic Resonance Flouresence | Reaction rate coefficients, photolysis quantum yields | 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 |