Bilateral Science and Technological Cooperation:

Serbia – Slovenia, 2008 – 2009

(Ministry of Science of Republic of Serbia – Bilateral Cooperation)

PROJECT TITLE: " Electron induced fragmentation of organic and small hydrocarbon molecules "

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR – Republic of Slovenia:

Dr. Iztok Čadež,

Institut Jožef Stefan (IJS), F2-MIC, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, iztok.cadez@ijs.si

PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Matjaž Žitnik, Sabina Markelj

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR – Republic of Serbia:

Dr. Aleksandar Milosavljević,

Institut za fiziku (IFB), Pregrevica 118, 11080 Zemun, vraz@ipb.ac.rs

PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Bratislav Marinković, Dr. Dragutin Šević, Jelena Maljković

Project description

We will investigate angular and energy distributions of ionic fragments created by interaction of 10 - 300 eV electrons with organic molecules and small hydrocarbons. Main project objectives are to obtaining new data on some organic molecules that are actively investigated with respect to radiation damage of biomolecules and on processes relevant to plasma wall interaction in tokamak reactors. Work programme on project is divided in three tasks:

1. Fragmentation of organic molecules. We will investigate formation of ionized fragments from DNA deoxyribose analogue molecules induced by low and medium energy electron impact. This is a model processes in investigation of radiation damage of DNA by secondary electrons produced by high energy primary ionizing particle. In order to understand radiation damage in detail numerous studies of different isolated molecules that are constituents of DNA are currently conducted at different places so that proposed program complements these activities. Proposed studies have been already started at IPB and proposed collaboration would facilitate use of experience of collaborators from JSI.

2. Fragmentation of small hydrocarbons. Here we will study angular and energy distributions of ionic fragments formed by low and medium energy electron collision with small hydrocarbons (e.g. methane, ethane) which are important for modelling of edge plasma in tokamaks. An example of application of experimental methods from atomic physics to research in this field is activity of the group from JSI that developed an original diagnostic method based on dissociative electron attachment in hydrogen. Small neutral hydrocarbons are present in edge plasma in fusion reactor and in particular in divertor region.

3. Development and improvement of experimental methods. Within this task we plan to upgrade and improve existing instruments in order to facilitate acquiring high quality data on studied processes. In particular, mass filter for of ionic fragments detection will be incorporated and experimental facilities employing crossed electric and magnetic field for electron and ion beam control will be improved.