Abstract

Ions can be created in seeded supersonic free jets by crossing the expansion with a high-energy short-wavelength laser. Examples include non-resonant ionization of aromatic molecules by excimer lasers and resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization of small molecules by a tunable dye laser. If the ions are created sufficiently close to the nozzle, they are clustered by neutral atoms and molecules. Ionic clusters have been studied by laser-induced fluorescence and time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

© 1987 Optical Society of America