Abstract

Several metals of groups IA-IVA were vaporized and the products studied by LIF. Various dimer species are observed, and their spectroscopy is summarized. Several electronic transitions due to Al₂ are observed and analyzed in the products of vaporization of aluminum. Analysis of our results clarifies the electronic structure of the dimer and indicates clearly that its ground electronic state is contrary to previous experimental results and in agreement with several recent ab initio theoretical studies of a ³Π_u symmetry. Vibrational and rotational constants for several excited states are also reported and their assignments discussed. Addition of reactive gases to the flow of the carrier gas permits the observation of fluorescence spectra from metal oxides, hydrides, carbides, or nitrides. Vaporization of alloys provides a versatile method for producing heteronuclear metal clusters. Several heteronuclear molecules, including the diatomic AlCu, as well as several reaction products, were studied.

© 1989 Optical Society of America