Austin J. Cunningham, Ph.D.
Education and Professional Affiliations
B.S., Physics (First Class Honours), Queens University, N. Ireland
Ph.D., Physics, Queens University, N. Ireland
Overview
Dr. Cunningham studies collisional processes occurring in planetary atmospheres, governing gas laser operation, important in thin film plasma deposition, and determining the output of high intensity lamps. The motivation is a better understanding of the collisional and radiative pathways governing energy production, transfer and loss in the different plasma environments.
Research Interests
Lectures on the role played by collisions in gas discharges and in explaining satellite and planetary probe data fascinated me while an undergraduate student in Ireland. I undertook a shock tube study of the temperature dependence of recombination of molecular ions and electrons important in upper atmosphere physics and vehicle re-entry problems for my doctoral work. As a postdoctoral fellow I used mass spectrometers to examine large cluster ion formation at low temperatures. Visible emission and absorption spectroscopy of molecular systems was then applied in studies of energy transfer processes leading to laser output. Integration of ultraviolet probing facilitated tracking of metastable atom production and conversion pathways in rare gas plasmas that lead to bound to free transitions. Of interest here is how to harness the desired pathways for high intensity UV lamp and tunable laser production. Krypton results at different pressures are shown in the figure. Also in progress are studies of collisions at surfaces and the role played by surface states in determining work function properties of surfaces and films.
Publications:
- A Factorial Analysis of the Preparation and Properties of a-C:H Thin Films. J.N. Johnson and A.J.Cunningham , Diamond and Related Materials, 2, 670 (1997)
- The Role of Residual casting Solvent in Determining the Lithographic and Dissolution Behavior of PMMA, R.Criss and A. J. Cunningham. I. Vac. Sci. and Technology, 13, 436 (1995)
- Photoluminescence Investigation ofa-C:Il Thin Films, J.W.Glesener, J.M.Anthony and A.Cunningharn. Diamond and Related Materials, 2,670(1993)
- Ionic E.U.V. branching Ratio Measurements Using Electron-Impact Excitation, Feng Yang and A.J.Cunningham, J. J. Quantative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer, 49,53 (1993).
- Temperature Dependencies of Ternary-Ion Molecule Association Reactions YieldingN3+,N4+~ and (CO2+); J.A.Guthrie, R.C.Chaney and A.i.Cunningham, J. Chem. Phys., 95, 930 (1991)
- Dissociative Recombination Measurements at Elevated Temperatures in I-Ielium-Neon Mixtures with L Jiang, i.A.Guthrie and R.C.Chaney, I. Phys. B.: At. Mot. Phys., 22, 3047 (1989).
- Updated: October 12, 2011
