Matthew Lawrence Costen

Personal profile

Research interests

Dynamics and Kinetics of Molecular Collisions Collisions between molecules resulting in energy transfer or reaction are the fundamental interactions of chemistry. The research in my group is aimed at deepening our understanding of these elementary steps, and uses the unique properties of lasers to prepare and probe the reagents and products. This work is carried out jointly with Prof Ken McKendrick (see our joint research group webpages). 1. Stereodynamics of Gas-Phase Collisions Measurement of vector properties (the stereodynamics) of gas-phase collisions are a sensitive probe of the forces involved. We use a variety of novel spectroscopic techniques to study collisional energy transfer, including polarization spectroscopy, crossed molecular beams with velocity-map imaging and frequency modulated spectroscopy (Figure 1). We interpret the results with the help of quantum scattering calculations, often performed by collaborators in other institutions. Figure 1. CN (A2Pi) prepared with an orientation (preferred sense of rotation). The difference in the signals (the orientation) decreases as collisions with Ar bath gas alter the plane of rotation of the CN. 2. Roaming Atoms and Molecules A new dynamical channel in molecular photodissociations has recently been identified, in which an atomic or molecular fragment ‘roams’ around its partner before reacting to form the products. The signature of a roaming channel appears in the coincident product state distribution. We have recently built a new velocity-map imaging spectrometer (Figure 2), with the aim of identifying how common roaming reactions really are. This work is in collaboration with Dr Dave Townsend (Physics). Figure 2. The newly constructed velocity-map imaging spectrometer. 3. Dynamics at the Gas-Liquid Interface The dynamics of the elementary steps occurring at gas-liquid interfaces has seen very little study, despite their fundamental importance in atmospheric, combustion and other environments. This work, led by Prof Ken McKendrick, studies the inelastic and reactive collisions of OH radicals and oxygen atoms (Figure 3) at surfaces of atmospheric and technological importance. Figure 3. O(3P) atoms are formed by photolysis, fly to the liquid covered surface of a rotating wheel, and the returning OH radicals are probed by laser-induced fluorescence.

Fingerprint Dive into the research topics where Matthew Lawrence Costen is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

4 Similar Profiles

Co Author Network Recent external collaboration on country level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots.

Research Output

74 Article
3 Paper
1 Abstract
1 Meeting abstract
2 More
- 1 Comment/debate
- 1 Literature review

Inelastic Scattering of CN Radicals at the Gas-Liquid Interface Probed by Frequency-Modulated Absorption Spectroscopy

Lane, P. D., Moncrieff, K., Greaves, S. J., McKendrick, K. G. & Costen, M. L., 30 Jul 2020, In : Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 124, 30, p. 16439-16448 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Probing Conformational Heterogeneity at the Ionic Liquid–Vacuum Interface by Reactive-Atom Scattering

Smoll, E. J., Purcell, S. M., D’Andrea, L., Slattery, J. M., Bruce, D. W., Costen, M. L., McKendrick, K. G. & Minton, T. K., 17 Jan 2019, In : Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. 10, 2, p. 156-163 8 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Open Access

File

5 Citations (Scopus)

6 Downloads (Pure)

Real-space laser-induced fluorescence imaging applied to gas-liquid interfacial scattering

Bianchini, R. H., Roman, M. J., Costen, M. L. & McKendrick, K. G., 7 Aug 2019, In : The Journal of Chemical Physics. 151, 5, 12 p., 054201.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Open Access

File

2 Citations (Scopus)

9 Downloads (Pure)

Collision-Energy Dependence of the Uptake of Hydroxyl Radicals at Atmospherically Relevant Liquid Surfaces

Bianchini, R., Tesa-Serrate, M. A., Costen, M. L. & McKendrick, K. G., 29 Mar 2018, In : Journal of Physical Chemistry C. 122, 12, p. 6648-6660 13 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Open Access

File

3 Citations (Scopus)

30 Downloads (Pure)

Determining the Composition of the Vacuum-Liquid Interface in Ionic-Liquid Mixtures

Smoll, E. J., Tesa-Serrate, M. A., Purcell, S., D'Andrea, L., Bruce, D. W., Slattery, J. M., Costen, M. L., Minton, T. K. & McKendrick, K. G., 1 Jan 2018, In : Faraday Discussions. 206, p. 497-522 26 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Open Access

File

11 Citations (Scopus)

26 Downloads (Pure)

Datasets

Rotationally Inelastic Scattering of NO(A2Sigma+)+Ar: Differential cross sections and rotational angular momentum polarization

Costen, M. L. (Creator), McKendrick, K. G. (Contributor), Townsend, D. (Contributor), Sharples, T. R. (Contributor) & Luxford, T. F. M. (Contributor), Heriot-Watt University, 15 Sep 2015

DOI: 10.17861/3ad18658-f767-4bf0-bb47-2ba7d9f75683

Dataset

Non-intuitive rotational reorientation in collisions of NO(A 2Sigma+) with Ne from direct measurement of a four-vector correlation

Sharples, T. R. (Creator), Leng, J. (Creator), McKendrick, K. G. (Creator) & Costen, M. L. (Creator), Heriot-Watt University, 1 Sep 2018

DOI: 10.17861/40dce729-a3d5-4acd-99f8-e09c468c72b9

Dataset

Comparative stereodynamics in molecule-atom and molecule-molecule rotational energy transfer: NO(A2Σ+) + He and D2.

Costen, M. L. (Creator), McKendrick, K. G. (Creator), Townsend, D. (Creator), Luxford, T. F. M. (Creator) & Sharples, T. R. (Creator), Heriot-Watt University, 29 Jul 2016

DOI: 10.17861/2b59c978-aa15-45bf-8b24-74c5ff41481b

Dataset