Cluster and Aerosol Characterization Unit

• Subject Area: Atmospheric Science, Oceanography and Climate Research
• Term: Funded in 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 284175688

We propose to set up a flow reactor system to investigate the formation of molecular clusters and aerosolparticles. Cluster and aerosol formation processes that are relevant for the Earth¿s atmosphere are studiedunder well-controlled conditions. The planned flow reactor system complements and supports our intensiveinvolvement in the CLOUD experiment at CERN. The proposed instrument acquisitions comprise two Parallel-Plate-High Resolution-Differential Mobility Analyzers (PP-HR-DMAs), a Particle Size Magnifier (PSM) and aScanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS). Ion clusters of very specific identity are selected and injected into theflow tube with the PP-HR-DMAs. Various processes such as a) cluster growth by condensation and subsequentaerosol formation b) cluster evaporation, and c) ion-ion-recombination processes and the resulting neutralclusters can be studied with the proposed set up and the analyzing instruments. The PSM and SMPS systemare used to characterize the cluster and aerosol size distribution in the flow tube, an Atmospheric PressureInterface-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (already available in our group) is used for chemicalcharacterization. This unique combination of highly innovative instrumentation will allow us to study processessuch as unipolar ion-induced nucleation (IIN) of positive as well as negative ions to quantify sign effects of IIN.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Cluster and Aerosol Characterization Unit
• Instrumentation Group: 1950 Partikelzählgeräte und -klassiergeräte (optisch, elektronisch, außer 35
• Applicant Institution: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
• Leader: Professor Dr. Joachim Curtius