Research highlights

Cyanoacetylene, HC3N, is a molecule widespread in the universe, despite its apparent exotic nature. Its ionized variant, HC3N+, though, is much more elusive: it has only rarely been studied in the laboratory, and due to the lack of accurate laboratory spectroscopic fingerprints, has not been detected in space, yet.

Researchers at HFML-FELIX and Syngenta (Jealott’s Hill International Research Centre) have used FELIX to demonstrate the differentiation of hydroxylated derivatives of two plant protection compounds (azoxystrobin and benzovindiflupyr) contained at low levels in relevant plant matrices This work has now been published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Researchers from HFML-FELIX and the University of Amsterdam have extended the boundaries of IRMPD spectroscopy of photostable ions by recording IR spectra of several PAH cations over the range of 6-100 µm using the intracavity free-electron laser FELICE at Radboud University in Nijmegen, where the (far)infrared and THz light intensities are such that bands with very low absorption strengths at long wavelengths can still be excited sufficiently efficient that dissociation occurs. These observations promise the extension of the spectral range used for spectral identification of molecules in space to at least 100 µm.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are abundant in many regions of the universe, representing a major reservoir for cosmic carbon. However, their formation pathways in cold regions of space remained elusive. Until now. Experimental studies at HFML-FELIX at Radboud University recently provided evidence for alternative formation routes of PAHs in cold environments of the universe like molecular clouds or planetary atmospheres. The results have been published in Nature Astronomy.

HFML-FELIX researchers exposed hole- doped Germanium to intense free-electron laser radiation and high magnetic fields up to 33T.  The used experimental technique and the results of their experiments demonstrate the exciting new possibilities for researching nonlinear magneto-optical processes in solids. The results have been published in Physical Review B (Editors' Suggestion).

A major challenge in epilepsy research is the identification of diagnostic biomarkers. N-acyliminium ions (NAIs) are useful intermediates for the synthesis of nitrogen containing chemical compounds. Researchers characterized NAIs using infrared ion spectroscopy (IRIS).

An international team of scientists used the FELIX cryogenic ion trap apparatus FELion to map in detail how negative ions bind to hydrogen molecules and have presented a precise quantum mechanical description.

An important step in the route to develop nanoscale ultrafast magneto-optics: the article 'Ultrafast demagnetization in a ferrimagnet under electromagnetic field funneling.' Now published in Nanoscale. And featured on the cover.

The back cover of the latest issue of PCCP  illustrates FELIX research on elementary reaction steps in the hydrogenation of CO2 over copper-based catalysts.

One of our guest researchers made it to the cover of the Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. Sven Heiles made this insightful image on his research on lipid ion structures and lipid fragments at HFML-FELIX.