Formation of silver clusters in nozzle expansions

The first successful experiments to generate continuum silver cluster beams from nozzle expansions are described. A mixture Ar/Ag expands out of a conical nozzle (0.35 mm dia., 10° cone angle, length 17 mm). At 2150 K, total pressure 300 kPa, silver partial pressure 8 kPa the silver intensity measured with a rate meter 479mm away from the source is 1.8 nm/s, or 0.02 g m^?2s^?1. The data for the onset of clustering confirm the predictions of the scaling laws developed to compare condensation in nozzle expansions of metal vapors with that of rare gases.