UIDB/00068/2020
Atomic and Molecular Collisions
The Atomic and Molecular Collisions Laboratory (LCAM) was established in 2004 with the main purpose to explore the electronic state spectroscopy of aeronomic, plasma processing, interstellar medium and biological relevant molecules by interaction with photons and electrons. LCAM’s unique nature has allowed to comprehensively investigate environmental selected molecules related to global warming and ozone depletion, while modelling photolysis rates and local lifetimes in the Earth’s atmosphere (0-50 km altitude).
At the forefront of worldwide interest in electron induced processes at the molecular level, LCAM assembled a unique gas-phase crossed molecular beam setup to explore electron transfer to biological relevant molecules, e.g. DNA/RNA nucleobases and even nucleosides. Additionally, and given the role of modern tailor-made radiation induced protocols for cancer treatment, radiosensitizers have been comprehensively investigated in order to provide essential information as to the underlying molecular mechanisms relevant to radiosensitization.
Further to LCAM’s mission and installed technical abilities, new gas-phase experimental setups have been successfully installed to explore the electronic and molecular structure of a diversity of molecules, either through high-resolution electron energy loss and He(I) photoelectron spectroscopies or through implementation of a low-energy electron impact setup for attachment and ionisation studies.
Since its foundation, LCAM keeps relevant international partnerships with universities and reference research laboratories, at the national and international scenes, with the main purpose to reinforce and bring in contributions of complementary experimental and theoretical techniques essential for its indoors scientific achievements. Also central to our mission is undergraduate and postgraduate advanced training which we have successfully performed by attracting national and international students.
