1. Could you explain the significance of your article to the non-specialist?

In general, polyatomic molecules exist in different conformations, that is, structures that differ by rotation about single bonds. These typically have very low energy differences and low barriers separating them, so that several conformations may be present in a room temperature sample. The differences in energy may be difficult to measure, and they may have some important practical consequences, as key processes in biological transformations, for example. We used imaging to record photoelectron spectra for specific conformers of propoanal, providing high resolution determination of energetic properties and insight into geometry changes between the neutral, excited neutral and ionic states of the molecule.

2. What has motivated you to conduct this work?

We are interested in the issues above, and furthermore in preparing specific conformers of ions for further photochemistry studies.

3. Where do you see this work developing in the future?

We will use these ions we have characterized, and others, in photodissociation or reaction dynamics investigations.

4. Are there any particular challenges facing future research in this area?

All it takes is time and money.