Other interesting papers and talks from the Laboratory of Surface Physics and Astrophysics - January 2001

In a recent papers of ours: "H₂Formation on Interstellar Grains in Different Physical Regimes", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 296, 869 (1998) we report the results of our study of the kinetics of H₂ formation using rate equations. It is shown that previous theoretical results, as well as new semi-empirical expressions, can be understood as processes occurring in two distinct physics regimes. To order a reprint, send me a note or press on the "feedback" button below.

We wrote a review paper on H₂ formation and other catalytic reactions of astrophysical interest that can be studied in the laboratory. The title is: "Experimental Studies of Chemical Reactions on Surfaces of Astrophysical Interest" and it has just been published in Astrophysical Letters and Communications, 35, 423 (1998). To order a reprint send me a message or press the "feedback" button below.

In collaboration with Profs. Ofer Biham, Majid Karimi, and Rosemary Kennet, and with Itay Fruman and Hong Zeng, we worked on a model describing self-diffusion, island nucleation and film growth on fcc(001) metal surfaces. It is entitled: ``Models for Diffusion and Island Growth in Metal Monolayers'' and it just appeared in Surf.Sci. 400, 29 (1998).
"Efficiency of Molecular Hydrogen Formation on Silicates", appeared in Astrophysical Journal 483, L131 (1997), reports the results of an experimetnal study of hydrogen recombination reactions on the surface of a polycrystalline sample of olivine.

An AFM image of our sample of olivine used in the experiments described in the papers mentioned on this page. Image taken with a Topometrix AFM by Dr. Genaro Zavala, Chemistry Dept., Syracuse University. Click on the image to get a bigger picture. More pictures will be posted soon.

"Laboratory Synthesis of Molecular Hydrogen on Surfaces of Astrophysical Interest", Astrophysical Journal Letters, v.475, L69 (1997). To take a look at the paper, click here .

"Laboratory Investigations of Hydrogen Recombination Reactions on Interstellar Dust Grain Analogues" in "The Cosmic Dust Connection'', Ed. by M.Greenberg (Kluwer Academic Press, 1996), p. 323.

Link to Prof. Gianfranco Vidali's home page

You can view here a recent talk that Prof. Gianfranco Vidali gave about research done in his laboratory. The talk is entitled: Astrochemistry. If you want to learn more, contact him.

To see a list of other recent publications, press the "Publications" botton below.

To request a preprint/reprint or send comments, please click the "Feedback" button below.

Research opportunities

We are constantly looking for new bright and dedicated graduate students wishing to work in our laboratory ! If you think you qualify and are interested, send an e-mail to Prof. Gianfranco Vidali gvidali@mailbox.syr.edu).
To know more about our Physics Department, go to this page!.

Gianfranco Vidali
221 Physics Building
Syracuse University - Department of Physics
Syracuse NY 13244-1130
voice: (315) 443-9115 fax: (315) 443-9103

gvidali@mailbox.syr.edu