Muonic X-ray intensities in SF6 and in H2+SF6

With a high pressure gas target muonic F and S X-ray intensities in SF₆ and H₂+SF₆ have been measured. It was found that the distribution of muons between sulphur and fluorine is not at all equal to the ratio of the atomic numbers Z.     

Multiple photon excitation of the v2 + v6 combination band of SF6 in a bulk and in a pulsed free jet

Multiple photon excitation of the v₂ + v₆ combination band of SF₆ in a bulk at T ≈ 295 K and cooled in a pulsed free jet up to T_V ≈ 160 K and T_R ≈ 40 K by a pulsed TEA CO₂ laser has been investigated. Obtained results are compared with the data on the v₃ vibration excitation. At exciting energy fluences ø = 0.1?2.5 J cm^-2 the levels in the region of the discrete vibrational states (v=3?5) are found mainly to be excited. Multiphoton absorption spectra at room temperature have a sharp resonant structure. The fraction of interacting molecules is considerably (3–7 times) less compared than that for the case of v₃ vibration excitation. Multiphoton absorption of the v₂ + v₆ and v₃ vibrations of SF₆ is shown to be proportional to the dipole moments of the corresponding transitions.     

Slow intermolecular redistribution of vibrational energy in SF6 gas excited by a tea CO2 laser

Infra-red fluorescence (IRF) spectra of SF₆ excited by the 944.2 cm^-1 line of a pulsed CO₂ laser were observed at various times after the time of the laser excitation. Each spectrum showed a strong IRF peak of the v₃ mode which was red shifted relative to the room temperature fundamental (948 cm^-1) by an amount which depended, apart from the level of excitation, on the different times employed. For a strong excitation with 〈n〉 ≈ 11 photons absorbed per molecule, a significant decrease of red shift versus time was observed, indicating mainly excitation losses by IRF emission. For weak excitation with 〈n〉 ≈ 1.4, almost an constant red shift versus time is observed. This result, and the previous finding that at weak excitation a nonthermal energy distribution in the ensemble of molecules exists, leads to the conclusion that intermolecular redistribution of vibrational energy in SF₆ is slow, and does not exceed the observed fluorescence duration (～1 ms).     

Influence of collisions and pulse intensity on multiple photon absorption in SF6

Using a pyroelectric detector, the multiple photon absorption (MPA) of the SF₆ molecule in a wide range of pressures (10^-3 -1 torr) has been studied. The significant role of collisions in MPA has been shown. The fraction of molecules excited under essentially collisionless conditions has been defined. It is shown that under collisionless excitation of SF₆ (p < 10^-2 torr) at energy fluences E < 10^-1 J/cm² the intensity of the laser pulse plays the essential role, while in presence of collisions MPA is determined mainly by the energy fluence in the pulse.     

Doppler-free two-photon spectroscopy of the 2ν3 band of SF6

The assignments of most of the observed Doppler-free two-photon spectra of the 2ν₃ band of SF₆ near the P(14)–P(20) lines of a 10-μm CO₂ waveguide laser are reported. The rovibrational and anharmonic constants for this band were obtained, along with ground state constants determined from observed “forbidden” transitions.     

Argon matrix Raman and infrared spectra of SF5Cl,SF5Br,and S2F10

Infrared and laser-excited Raman spectra of SF₅Cl, SF₅Br, and S₂F₁₀ have been observed in dilute argon matrices and in the solid phase at 8 K. The first vibrational assignment of the SF₅Br molecule and assignments for the ν(SCl), ν(SBr), and ν(SS) modes in SF₅Cl, SF₅Br, and S₂F₁₀ are presented. The chlorine isotopic components of the SCl stretch in SF₅Cl have been resolved. The Raman spectrum of SF₅Br, which has not been reported previously, is discussed.     

Measurement of nanoparticle temperature in a (CO2) N cluster beam using SF6 molecules as tiny probe thermometers

A temperature measurement technique using SF₆ molecules as tiny probe thermometers is described, and results are presented, for large (CO₂) _N van der Waals clusters (with N ≥ 10²) in a cluster beam. The SF₆ molecules captured by (CO₂) _N clusters in crossed cluster and molecular beams sublimate (evaporate) after a certain time, carrying information about the cluster velocity and internal temperature. Experiments are performed using detection of these molecules with an uncooled pyroelectric detector and infrared multiphoton excitation. The multiphoton absorption spectra of molecules sublimating from clusters are compared with the IR multiphoton absorption spectra of SF₆ in the incoming beam. As a result, the nanoparticle temperature in the (CO₂) _N cluster beam is estimated as T _cl < 150 K. Time-of-flight measurements using a pyroelectric detector and a pulsed CO₂ laser are performed to determine the velocity (kinetic energy) of SF₆ molecules sublimating from clusters, and the cluster temperature is found to be T _cl = 105 ± 15 K. The effects of various factors on the results of nanoparticle temperature measurements are analyzed. The potential use of the proposed technique for vibrational cooling of molecules to low temperatures is discussed.     

High-resolution Raman spectroscopy of the ν1 region and Raman-Raman double resonance spectroscopy of the 2ν1−ν1 band of SF6 and SF6. Determination of the equilibrium bond length of sulfur hexafluoride

The ν₁ region of ³²SF₆ and ³⁴SF₆ has been studied by stimulated Raman spectroscopy. For both isotopomers, a detailed analysis has been performed. Several hot bands (ν₁+ν₆−ν₆, ν₁+2ν₆−2ν₆, ν₁+ν₅−ν₅) have been taken into account to calculate synthetic spectra that satisfactorily reproduce the experimental data. These results, together with the previous studies of the other fundamental bands have allowed us to determine the equilibrium bond length of sulfur hexafluoride as r_e=1.5560(1) Å, in very good agreement with recent ab initio calculations. The 2ν₁−ν₁ band has also been studied for both isotopomers by Raman-Raman double resonance spectroscopy and the resulting spectra have been analyzed. In this case, a striking difference is observed between the two isotopomers, since the 2ν₁−ν₁ band of ³⁴SF₆ appears to have a very narrow structure that could not be rotationally resolved under the present experimental conditions. All analyses have been performed thanks to the HTDS program suite (http://www.u-bourgogne.fr/LPUB/hTDS.html) dedicated to octahedral XY₆ molecules.     

SF6 ground-based infrared solar absorption measurements: long-term trend, pollution events, and a search for SF5CF3 absorption

Infrared solar spectra recorded with the Fourier transform spectrometer in the McMath solar telescope complex on Kitt Peak (31.9°N latitude, 111.6°W, altitude), southwest of Tucson, Arizona, have been analyzed to retrieve average SF₆ tropospheric mixing ratios over a two-decade time span. The analysis is based primarily on spectral fits to absorption by the intense, unresolved ν₃ band Q branch at . A best fit to measurements recorded with SF₆ near typical background concentrations yields a SF₆ increase in the average tropospheric mixing ratio from (10⁻¹² per unit volume) in March 1982 to in March 2002. The long-term increase by a factor of 3.34 over the time span is consistent with the rapid growth of surface mixing ratios measured in situ at Northern Hemisphere remote stations, though the infrared measurements show a large scatter. Average tropospheric mixing ratio enhancements above background by 2-3 orders of magnitude have been identified in spectra recorded on 5 days between November 1988 and April 1997. These spectra were individually analyzed in an attempt to detect the strongest 8- band of SF₅CF₃, a molecule recently identified with an atmospheric growth that has closely paralleled the rise in SF₆ during the past three decades. Absorption by the strongest SF₅CF₃ band was predicted to be above the noise level in the Kitt Peak spectrum with the highest average mean tropospheric SF₆ mixing ratio, assuming the reported atmospheric SF₅CF₃/SF₆ ratio and a room temperature absorption cross sections reported for the SF₅CF₃ 903-cm⁻¹ band. An upper limit of 8×10¹⁵ for the SF₅CF₃ total column was estimated for this case. We hypothesize that the highly elevated SF₆ levels above Kitt Peak resulted from a local release experiment rather than production via electrochemical fluoridation of intermediate products, the proposed source of atmospheric SF₅CF₃. The absence of the SF₅CF₃ feature in the spectra with elevated SF₆ is consistent with the absence of SF₅CF₃ reported in a pure SF₆ sample.     

Absorption of CO2 laser pulses at different wavelengths by ground-state and vibrationally heated SF6

The absorption of CO₂ laser pulses by low pressure SF₆ gas has been investigated over a wide range of energy fluxes. For laser energy fluxes of 0.01–1 J cm^-2 the effective absorption cross section varies between 0.2 and 2 × 10^-18 cm². For each laser line an individual dependence on the energy is found and in some cases minor changes in the absorption behaviour seem to occur around 0.1 J cm^-2. SF₆ excited with an average vibrational energy content of up to 20 photons/molecule does not absorb measurable amounts of 9.4 μm laser light. The influence of various SF₆ and Ar pressures on the temporal shape of the transmitted pulses has been investigated.     

Predictions of multiphoton resonances in SF6 and SiF4

The frequency dependence of the multiphoton resonances to the rotation-vibrational levels of the first two ν₃ overtones are calculated for SF₆ and SiF₄. From these calculations we can identify most of the features seen in the high intensity SF₆ absorption data and predict those features that would be seen in similar SiF₄ data.     

The forbidden far-infrared ν6 band of SF6

The far infrared spectra of SF₆ in the 33-μm region in the gas phase at different pressures and in the liquid phase have been studied. A small band situated at 351 cm^?1 on the high-frequency side of two difference bands situated at 304.5 cm^?1 has been observed in the gas phase. Since the integrated intensity of the 351-cm^?1 band varies linearly with the density, it cannot be collision induced. It appears that it is the forbidden ν₆ band that becomes active by Coriolis interaction. This band is seen in the liquid at about the same frequency when it is deconvoluted from the neighboring broadened and split difference bands.     

Collision-induced simultaneous transitions in H2+CF4 and H2+SF6 mixtures

The simultaneous transitions of the v₃ fundamental vibrations of CF₄ and SF₆ with the fundamental Q branch and S(1) line of H₂ have been studied for various H₂+CF₄ and H₂+SF₆ mixtures at total pressures up to 185 bars. The integrated intensities are found to be proportional to the partial densities of the gas mixture components. The agreement between experimental and calculated intensities is generally better for the Kihara potential than for the Lennard-Jones potential.     

Threshold behavior of multiple photon dissociation of SF6

Multiple photon dissociation of SF₆ by a short pulse of a CO₂ laser has been investigated by simultaneous measurements of the average number of photons absorbed per molecule 〈n〉 and chemiluminescence intensities which result from the dissociated F atoms. A criterion for the dissociation threshold which is independent of laser wavelength is found to be 〈n〉 = 16 ± 3 photons per molecule. A thermal distribution of the excited molecules is shown to be inconsistent with the behavior just above threshold.     

Continuous-wave CO2 laser spectroscopy of SF6, WF6, and UF6

The linear absorption of CO₂ laser radiation in SF₆, WF₆, and UF₆ has been measured by using optoacoustic detection techniques. Absolute absorption coefficients per Torr as low as 1 × 10^?7 cm^?1 Torr^?1 in a 2-cm active path length could be measured by taking advantage of calibration measurements performed with SF₆.     

Low-temperature absorption contour of the ν3 band of SF6

A band contour analysis is carried out for the ν₃ absorption in SF₆. Values of ΔB = ? (1.0 ? 1.5) × 10^?4cm^?1, ζ₃ = 0.701, and ν₀ = 948.2cm^?1 are found. Tentative assignments are given for the SF₆ rotational states which are pumped by the P(14) through P(22) lines of the CO₂ laser.     

The fluorescence and IR energy deposition from from CO2 laser irradiation of SF6−H2 mixtures

The multiple photon excitation and dissociation of SF₆ and hydrogen mixtures is measured by using simultaneously pulsed optoacoustic detection to monitor the energy deposition and time resolved HF fluorescence to monitor the production of vibrationally hot HF. From these studies we deduce that at least three mechanisms lead to production of vibrationally excited HF. One mechanism produces free F from the unimolecular laser-induced decomposition of SF₆. The second mechanism involves the reaction between two vibrationally hot SF₆ molecules to produce free F. In both of these cases the F atom subsequently react with H₂ to produce vibrationally hot HF. The third involves the reaction between a vibrationally hot SF₆ molecule and a hydrogen molecule producing vibrationally hot HF directly.     

Coherent Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman spectra of the ν1 (A1) and ν2 (E) bands of SF6 and UF6

Coherent Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman scattering are used to study the ν₁ and ν₂ spectral band profiles of UF₆ and SF₆. Most of the observed SF₆ “hot” bands are assigned, leading to evaluations of the anharmonicity constants X_ij: X₁₂ = ?(2.80 ± 0.30) cm^?1, X₁₄ = ?(1.00 ± 0.15) cm^?1, X₁₅ = ?(1.00 ± 0.15) cm^?1. For UF₆, a tentative assignment of the “hot” bands is made: X₁₂ = ?(1.80 ± 0.30) cm^?1, X₁₃ = ?(1.60 ± 0.30) cm^?1, X₁₄ = ?(0.20 ± 0.10) cm^?1, X₁₅ = ?(0.25 ± 0.10) cm^?1, and X₁₆ = ?(0.10 ± 0.05) cm^?1. Parameters such as the vibration-rotation coupling constants are determined. For SF₆: α = (7 ± 2) × 10^?5 cm^?1 for the ν₂ band and α = ?(1.02 ± 0.01) 10^?4 cm^?1 for the ν₁ band. The calculated spectral profiles of the coherent Stokes or anti-Stokes spectra, which are in good agreement with experimental results, give values for the resonant and nonresonant parts of the susceptibility in both molecules. They also show, in some cases, the influence of neighboring combination bands.     

Disintegration of argon clusters in collisions with highly vibrationally excited SF6 molecules in crossed molecular and cluster beams

It has been found that collisions of highly vibrationally excited SF₆ molecules (with the vibrational energy E _vib ≥ 0.5–2.0 eV) with Ar _N clusters (where N ≤ 30–40 is the number of atoms in a cluster) in crossed molecular and cluster beams result in capture of molecules followed by complete disintegration of the clusters. Possible applications of the effect for selective doping of clusters with molecules, laser separation of isotopes, and selective transport of molecules to the surface are discussed.     

Detection of SF<Subscript>6</Subscript> molecules sublimating from the surface of (CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis></Subscript> nanoparticles in a cluster beam by the infrared multiphoton excitation method

It has been found that SF₆ molecules captured by large van der Waals clusters (CO₂) _N (where N ≥ 10² is the number of monomers in a cluster) in intersecting molecular and cluster beams sublimate from the surface of clusters after a certain time and carry information on the velocity and temperature (internal energy) of clusters. Experiments have been carried out for detecting these molecules by means of a pyroelectric detector and the infrared multiphoton excitation method. The multiphoton absorption spectra of molecules sublimating from the surface of clusters have been obtained. The temperature of the (CO₂) _N nanoparticles in the cluster beam has been estimated using these spectra and comparing them with the infrared multiphoton absorption spectra of SF₆ in the initial molecular beam.