Abstract

The evolution of the IR spectrum in the 10-μm region of the spectra of a molecule embedded in a noble gas cluster as a function of cluster size is discussed from both the experimental and theoretical points of view. In particular, the ability of this technique for giving information on the state of aggregation and structure of the cluster is evaluated. The fact that different molecule/solvent combinations behave very differently is documented. The probability for a molecule to reside on the surface of the cluster vs the probability of being fully coated by the solvent atoms is evaluated with the help of a crossed-beam surface deposition technique. The same technique is used to investigate the reaction between two neutral molecules in a cluster. Studies involving changes of the chemical nature of the molecule deposited on the surface and variation of the cluster size are presently being carried out in an attempt to determine the rate of diffusion of molecules in clusters. Finally, we are setting up and, with some luck, also report on experiments which make use of continuously tunable lasers in the 1.5-μm region that have the capability of operating either cw or with picosecond pulses.

© 1987 Optical Society of America