Roadmap on dynamics of molecules and clusters in the gas phase

This roadmap article highlights recent advances, challenges and future prospects in studies of the dynamics of molecules and clusters in the gas phase. It comprises nineteen contributions by scientists with leading expertise in complementary experimental and theoretical techniques to probe the dynamics on timescales spanning twenty order of magnitudes, from attoseconds to minutes and beyond, and for systems ranging in complexity from the smallest (diatomic) molecules to clusters and nanoparticles. Combining some of these techniques opens up new avenues to unravel hitherto unexplored reaction pathways and mechanisms, and to establish their significance in, e.g. radiotherapy and radiation damage on the nanoscale, astrophysics, astrochemistry and atmospheric science.

Automated summary

This article reviews recent advances, challenges, and future prospects in the study of dynamics of molecules and clusters in the gas phase, highlighting the use of experimental and theoretical techniques on various timescales and system complexities. Combining these techniques can lead to new insights into unexplored reaction pathways and mechanisms, with implications in radiotherapy, nanoscale radiation damage, astrophysics, astrochemistry, and atmospheric science.