Multiphoton dissociation of CF<Subscript>3</Subscript>I clusters by IR laser radiation

The results of investigation of dissociation of (CF₃I) _n clusters upon resonant excitation of vibrations of CF₃I molecules by pulsed CO₂ laser radiation are reported. The kinetics of dissociation of such clusters is studied and the dissociation yield is measured. It is shown that its value is completely controlled by fluence Φ_IR of transmitted IR radiation energy and its time dependence is exponential. The results of measurements show that the dissociation lifetime of clusters is shorter than 10^?8 s. The velocity and translational temperature of free CF₃I molecules formed during dissociation of clusters are measured, as well as the dependence of these parameters on Φ_IR. It is concluded that, under these conditions of IR excitations, the dissociation of (CF₃I) _n clusters can be treated as consecutive evaporation of molecules.     

Energy and pressure dependence of the CO2 laser induced dissociation of sulfur hexafluoride

Low pressure SF₆ with its isotopes in natural abundance was irradiated by a pulsed CO₂ laser operated on theP20 line (10.6 μm band). Dissociation yields of³²SF₆ and³⁴SF₆ were measured separately. If the radiation is focussed into the cell, the dissociation yield is proportional to the 3/2 power of the laser energy, as was derived under general conditions and confirmed experimentally. The reaction probabilityP(Φ), the fraction of molecules dissociated by an energy flux Φ, was measured using parallel light. For both isotopes,P(Φ) saturates at high energy flux close toP=1. At a lower flux (2 J cm⁻²), the dissociation probability of³²SF₆ displays a threshold, whereas the dissociation probability of³⁴SF₆ is a very steep function of Φ over the whole range of fluxes.P(Φ) at the higher energy flux was measured in a cavity absorption cell, in which up to 80% of the molecules were dissociated by a single pulse. Below 0.2 mbar SF₆ the dissociation yields for both isotopes are pressure independent. Above 2 mbar the isotopic selectivity is completely lost. Addition of hydrogen always decreases the dissociation yields.     

Effect of gas pressure and pulse length on the isotopically selective multiphoton dissociation of CF3Cl under CO2 laser pulses

The multiphoton dissociation of CF₃Cl induced by TEA-CO₂ laser pulses has been studied in a focused beam geometry. TheR(10) [00°1–02°0] ( ) laser line was used, so as to dissociate preferentially the minor isotopic component¹³CF₃Cl. The isotopic selectivityS and the dissociation probability per pulse ω were measured in the pressure range between 0.25 and 8 Torr. With short laser pulses (90 ns FWHM),S is found to increase slightly with gas pressure up to 2 Torr, and ω, to increase almost linearly over the whole pressure range studied. A schematic model is proposed which satisfactorily explains these results if the transition rates across the energy level spectrum of the CF₃Cl molecules are assumed to increase with gas pressure.     

Systematic field-theory for the hard-core one-component plasma

A continuous liquid flow in a vacuum (a liquid beam) of an aqueous solution of adenine salt containing hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide was irradiated with an intense pulsed IR laser at 3 μm, which is resonant to a vibrational mode related to the OH stretch vibration of H₂O. Neutral species isolated into the vacuum were ionized by a pulsed UV laser at 270 nm, and the product ions were mass-analyzed by a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. It is found that AH ₂ ^{2 + .} 2Cl^- and [A-iH] ^{i - .} iNa⁺ (i = 1-3) are isolated in the vacuum from the aqueous acidic and alkaline solutions, respectively, under irradiation of the IR laser, and undergo four-photon ionization involving decomposition and proton transfer of the intermediate species under irradiation of the UV laser. Received 1st May 2002 Published online 13 September 2002     

Laser-initiated ignition of hydrogen-air mixtures

The subject of investigation is the kinetic mechanisms intensifying chain reactions that proceed in a hydrogen-air mixture when O₂ molecules dissociate under the action of laser radiation with wavelength λ _I = 193.3 nm and are excited into the b ¹Σ _g ⁺ electron state by radiation with λ _I = 762.346 nm. The efficiencies of both methods to initiate ignition are compared. Numerical simulation shows that the ignition temperature for the laser-induced excitation of O₂ molecules into theb ¹Σ _g ⁺ state is lower than for the dissociation of O₂ molecules by UV laser radiation, with the energy supplied to the mixture being the same. However, both photochemical methods are much more efficient than mere heating of the mixture by laser radiation or another source of heat.     

Tunable infrared generation using the 6s−5d Raman transition in caesium vapour

Coherent infrared radiation tunable between 1.6 and 3.2 μm was generated with a pulsed dye laser by 6s−5d _5/2 stimulated electronic Raman scattering in caesium vapour. We describe a technique using thermal dissociation to reduce the density of caesium dimers in a heat-pipe oven, which produced a factor of 7 reduction in Raman threshold. The threshold displayed a marked dependence on pump bandwidth.     

Dissociation of CF<Subscript>2</Subscript>HCl molecules by intense radiation from a femtosecond laser in the near-IR range

It is found that CF ₂HCl molecules dissociate under irradiation by high-intensity pulses of femtosecond radiation (λ=1.8 μm) in the vicinity of resonance with the frequency of overtone vibrational transitions in the C-H bond. It is shown that the dissociation products substantially differ from the products of dissociation of CF₂HCl molecules from the ground and excited electronic states under the action of IR and UV nanosecond pulses.     

Investigations of multiphoton selective dissociation of (CH3)2O in the field of a pulsed CO2 laser

Experimental investigations of multiphoton selective dissociation of (CH₃)₂O induced by a pulsed CO₂ laser have been conducted. Separation of H, C, and O isotopes was performed in enriched mixtures and in samples with the natural abundance. The following coefficients of selectivity have been obtained:K _D/K_H=4.0,K ₁₃/K₁₂=1.7, andK ₁₈/K₁₆≧1.6. We studied the dependences of the selectivity coefficient on ether pressure, on the laser energy and frequency as well as the influence of secondary chemical reactions on the dissociation selectivity. Estimations made by using the RRKM theory have indicated that ether molecules that decompose have an average excitation energy above the dissociation threshold of ∼1.5 kcal/mole.     

Excitation and dissociation of polyatomic molecules under the action of femtosecond infrared laser pulses

The effect of high-intensity femtosecond laser pulses (100–200 fs) in the near (0.8–1.8 μm) and medium (4.6–5.8 μm) IR ranges on the CF₂HCl, CF₃H, (CF₃)₂C=C=O, and C₄F₉COI molecules is examined. Irradiation of CF₂HCl and CF₃H molecules by 0.8-to 1.8-μm laser pulses with intensities of >40 TW/cm² (>4 × 10¹³ W/cm²) makes them dissociate to yield CF₃H and CF₄, respectively. The key mechanism of the dissociation of these molecules is field ionization and fragmentation. The excitation of the stretching vibrations of the C=O bond in the (CF₃)₂C=C=O and C₄F₉COI molecules by 4.5-to 5.8-μm femtosecond pulses produced no detectable dissociation up to a fluence of ∼0.5 J/cm² (or a intensity of ∼2.5 TW/cm²). Probable explanations of this observation are discussed. Original Russian Text ? V.M. Apatin, V.O. Kompanets, V.B. Laptev, Yu.A. Matveets, E.A. Ryabov, S.V. Chekalin, V.S. Letokhov, 2007, published in Khimicheskaya Fizika, 2007, Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 18–25.     

Multiphoton ionization of iodine atoms and CF<Subscript> 3</Subscript>I molecules by XeCl laser radiation

We report about effective ionization of iodine atoms and CF₃I molecules under the action of intense XeCl laser radiation (308 nm). The only ion fragment resulting from the irradiation of the CF₃I molecules is the I⁺ ion. We have studied the influence of the intensity, spectral composition, and polarization of the laser radiation used on the intensity of the ion signal and the shape of its time-of-flight peak. Based on the analysis of the results obtained, we have suggested the mechanism of this effect. The conclusion drawn is that the ionization of the iodine atoms by the ordinary XeCl laser with a nonselective cavity results from a three- (2 + 1)-photon REMPI process. This process is in turn due to the presence of accidental two-photon resonances between various spectral components of the laser radiation and the corresponding intermediate excited states of the iodine atom. The probability of ionization of the atoms from their ground state I(²P_3/2) by the radiation of the ordinary XeCl laser is more than two orders of magnitude higher than the probability of their ionization from the metastable state I^*(²P_1/2). The ionization of the CF₃I molecules by the XeCl laser radiation occurs as a result of a four-photon process involving the preliminary one-photon dissociation of these molecules and the subsequent (2 + 1)-photon REMPI of the resultant neutral iodine atoms.     

Isotope-selective IR multiphoton dissociation of CHClF2 in the presence of NO2

2 to the CHClF₂/He mixture irradiated by a Q-switched CO₂ laser leads to oxidation of the dissociation product according to the reaction: CF₂+NO₂→COF₂+NO. The resulting COF₂ with a ¹³C content near 50% is easy to convert to CO₂ or CO for further enrichment by a nonlaser process. We measured the dependence of the fraction of dimerised CF₂ on NO₂ pressure p_NO2 and the amount of NO₂ required to suppress dimerisation on the dissociation yield. Both agree with a kinetic model using known rate constants. For the range of the dissociation parameters (¹³CF₂ yield of 10% per pulse, isotope selectivity of 130) of practical interest, 95% of the CF₂ produced is oxidized at p_NO2≈1/2p_CHClF2. In the absence of NO₂, major (20%–35%) losses of CF₂ at the metal walls of the irradiation system were observed. Addition of NO₂ suppresses them. For comparison, we also used O₂ as a scavenger in CHClF₂ dissociation. NO₂ is by orders of magnitude more efficient. Received: 21 January 1997/Revised version: 23 March 1997     

Near IR laser light visualizators using nonlinear GaSe and other layered crystallites

Two methods of preparation of the devices for visualization of pulsed and continuous near-IR (near infrared) are described and the results of conversion of pulsed and continuous IR (800–1360 nm) laser radiation into the visible range of spectra (400–680 nm) by using a transparent substrate covered with the particles (including nanoparticles) of effective nonlinear materials of GaSe _x S_{1 − x} (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) are presented. Converted light can be detected in transmission or reflection geometry as a visible spot corresponding to the real size of the incident laser beam. Developed device structures can be used for checking if the laser is working or not, for optical adjustment, for visualization of distribution of laser radiation over the cross of the beam and for investigation of the content of the laser radiation. Low energy (power density) limit for visualization of the IR laser pulses with 2–3 ps duration for these device structures are: between 4.6–2.1 μJ (3 × 10⁻⁴−1 × 10⁻⁴ W/cm²) at 1200 nm; between 8.4–2.6 μJ (4.7 × 10⁻⁴−1.5 × 10⁻⁴ W/cm²) at 1300 nm; between 14.4–8.1 μJ (8.2 × 10⁻⁴–4.6 × 10⁻⁴ W/cm²) at 1360 nm. Threshold damage density is more than 10 MW/cm² at λ = 1060 nm, pulse duration τ = 35 ps. The results are compared with commercially existing laser light visualizators.     

The formation of an intense secondary pulsed molecular beam and obtaining accelerated molecules and radicals in it

A method for obtaining an intense secondary pulsed molecular beam is described. The kinetic energy of molecules in the beam can be controlled by vibrational excitation of the molecules in the source under high-power IR laser radiation. A compression shock (shock wave) is used as a source of secondary beams. The shock wave is formed in interaction between an intense pulsed supersonic molecular beam (or flow) and a solid surface. The characteristics of the secondary beam were studied. Its intensity and the degree of gas cooling in it were comparable with the corresponding characteristics of the unperturbed primary beam. Vibrational excitation of molecules in the shock wave and subsequent vibrational-translational relaxation, which occurs when a gas is expanded in a vacuum, allow the kinetic energy of molecules in the secondary beam to be substantially increased. Intense [≥10²⁰ molecules/(sr s)] beams of SF₆ and CF₃I molecules with kinetic energies approximately equal to 1.5 and 1.2 eV, respectively, were generated in the absence of carrier gases, and SF₆ molecular beams with kinetic energies approximately equal to 2.5 and 2.7 eV with He (SF₆/He=1/10) and H₂ (SF₆/H₂=1/10) as carrier gases, respectively, were obtained. The spectral and energy characteristics of acceleration of SF₆ molecules in the secondary beams were studied. The optimal conditions were found for obtaining high-energy molecules. The possibility of accelerating radicals in secondary molecular beams was demonstrated.     

Formation and measurement of cluster beams at gasdynamic cooling of CF2HCl molecules

The clustering of CF₂HCl (Freon-22 refrigerant) molecules is found to take place when these molecules are dynamically cooled in a pulsed supersonic beam. A method of CF₂HCl cluster beam diagnostics is developed that combines UV multiphoton ionization, time-of-flight mass spectroscopy, and cluster IR photodissociation. The velocity of directed motion of (CH₂HCl)_n clusters, as well as the longitudinal and transverse velocities of their thermal motion, are measured at different stagnation pressures P ₀. The cluster mean size and the degree of clustering in the flow are estimated depending on supersonic flow conditions.     

HF Laser Based on Thermal- and Photon-Branched Chain Reactions Initiated by IR Laser Radiation

A chemical H₂–F₂ laser (oscillator and amplifier) initiated by means of IR radiative excitation of vibrational levels of HF molecules is studied under the conditions of development of a thermal-branched chain reaction caused by thermal dissociation of gaseous additions to the laser mixture. It is shown that, using F₂SO₃ addition at a partial pressure of 40 Torr, an H₂–F₂ laser with a mixture pressure of 1~bar initiated by a pulsed hydrogen fluorine laser can provide an output exceeding 120–200 J/liter in 20–50 ns laser pulses.     

Voltage-current characteristics of superatmospheric pressure CO2 laser discharges

The IR NH₃ laser radiation was applied for selective dissociation of CCl₄ molecules. The dissociation yield, its pressure dependence and isotopic selectivity were measured. Two-frequency dissociation of CCl₄ by the NH₃ laser and the CO₂ pump laser radiations was carried out. It was shown that the NH₃ laser is very effective for CCl₄ dissociation.     

Laser isotope separation of 13C: A comparative study

IR laser chemistry of (CF₃Br/Cl₂) mixture and neat CF₂HCl are examined in the context of ¹³C enrichment. Decomposition extent, enrichment factor and energy absorbed are measured for both systems at their respective optimum conditions. A direct comparison is obtained by keeping extraneous factors such as laser, its pulse duration, cell, irradiation geometry etc. the same. The halogen scavenged CF₃Br MPD requires lower fluence compared to neat CF₂HCl irradiation. Overall throughput for a product with 60–65% ¹³C content in a single stage is the same for both systems requiring a similar amount of energy. However, at lower enrichment levels, CF₂HCl MPD is better than (CF₃Br/Cl₂) photolysis in terms of both product yield and energy absorption.     

氟里昂113在多频强红外场离解过程中的V-V能量转移

用TEACO₂激光9P(24),9P(22),9P(20),9P(18)四支线组成的多频强红外场“超激发”氟里昂₁₁₃分子,使其达到很高激发态。由分解曲线可以看出CF₂Cl·CFCl₂与CF₃·CCl₃之间的V-V能量转移有明显的“虹吸”作用。从所得主要产物C₂P₆,C₂Cl₆,C_关键词：     

IR Laser Control of the Clustering of CF<Subscript>3</Subscript>Br Molecules during the Gas-Dynamic Expansion of a CF<Subscript>3</Subscript>Br/Ar Mixture: Bromine Isotope Selectivity

The infrared (IR) laser radiation control of the clustering of CF3Br molecules during the gas-dynamic expansion of a CF₃Br/Ar mixture at the exit from a nozzle is investigated. Prominence is given to studying the possibility of bromine-isotope-selective suppression of the clustering of CF₃Br molecules due to their resonance vibrational excitation in the gas-dynamic expansion zone near the nozzle. A continuous CO₂ laser is used in experiments to excite molecules and clusters in a beam, and a quadrupole mass spectrometer is used to detect them. The experimental setup and the experimental technique are described. The dependences of the efficiency of molecule clustering suppression on the exciting laser radiation parameters, the gas parameters (composition, pressure) above the nozzle, and the distance from the nozzle exit section to a molecule irradiation zone are obtained. Bromine-isotope-selective suppression of molecule clustering is shown to occur at the exit from the nozzle due to the resonance vibrational excitation of gas-dynamically cooled CF₃Br molecules. When CF₃Br/Ar mixtures are used at pressure ratios p(CF₃Br): p(Ar) = 1: 10 and 1: 30, the enrichment of a cluster beam by bromine isotopes are K_enr(⁸¹Br) ≈ 1.18 ± 0.09 and 1.12 ± 0.07 during the 9R(30) laser line (1084.635 cm^–1) irradiation of a jet. The clustering suppression selectivity is α ≈ 1.18 when the mixture at the pressure ratio p(CF₃Br): p(Ar) = 1: 10 is used. These results suggest that the proposed method can selectively control the clustering of the molecules containing the heavy element isotopes that have a small isotope shift in IR absorption spectra (OsO₄, WF₆, UF₆).     

Dissociation of molecular hydrogen ions by an IR laser pulse

Dissociation dynamics of the simplest molecular systems, such as H₂ ⁺, D₂ ⁺ and HD⁺ ions, in an intense IR laser field has been investigated by numerical modeling. An n-term approximation has been developed to describe the molecular system dynamics in an intense electromagnetic field. Calculations by the n-term approximation have been compared to an accurate numerical solution of the two-particle problem. The dissociation probability as a function of the frequency and intensity of radiation for different isotopes in a molecular hydrogen ion is discussed. A quasistatic model of molecule dissociation in an IR field has been suggested, and limits of its applicability have been determined. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 113, 128–143 (January 1998)