Configurations of van der Waals complexes controlled via London dispersion forces as revealed by means of Stark spectroscopy in He-nanodroplets

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Bretislav Friedrich; Professor Dr. Alkwin Slenczka
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 2015 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 271453866

By means of high resolution Stark spectroscopy on electronic transitions molecular van der Waals complexes are studies which. The formation of such complexes inside helium nanodorplets is determined by long rage London dispersion forces. Combined experimental and theoretical investigations head to reveal the influence of long rage London dispersion forces on the configuration of such complexes. In addition to molecular complexes the results obtained so far show an interesting aspect of the project to study microsolvation of molecules in helium droplets. Thereby, the dispersion interaction between non-polar organic molecules and helium atoms plays a dominant role. This is an extreme example for steering by London dispersion forces.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1807: Control of London Dispersion Interactions in Molecular Chemistry