Ionizing radiation pervades our environment and affects all life on earth. The absorption of this impinging energy can produce profound chemical and biochemical transformations in the materials irradiated. Professor Carmichael's research provides a fundamental molecular-level understanding of the effects of the interaction of such radiation with matter in the condensed phase. The work is performed in the Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory, the premier facility for radiation chemical research supported by the Chemical Sciences Division of Basic Energy Sciences at the US Department of Energy. The Laboratory provides both unique experimental tools and unique opportunities for focused interdisciplinary collaborations. The knowledge gained from this research provides the scientific basis for solving problems in environmental waste management and remediation, nuclear energy production, capture and chemical conversion of solar energy, and radiation therapy.

Specific topics currently under active investigation include

Electron-driven processes in condensed phases
Excited species in water radiolysis; radical formation in irradiated organic liquids

Radiation effects in heterogeneous systems and at interfaces
Radiation chemistry at water-ceramic oxide interfaces; theoretical characterization of ceramic oxide surfaces

Charge transfer in hybrid assemblies
Charge separation and transport in conjugated polymers