Generation of Pulsed High-Energy Beams of Trifluoroiodomethane Molecules and Trifluoromethyl Radicals

A method for generating energetic beams of CF₃I molecules and CF₃ radicals was described. The method is based on the formation of pressure shock in front of a solid surface due to the impact of an intense, pulsed, gas-dynamically cooled molecular beam (or flow) on this surface and its use as a source of a secondary beam for producing energetic molecules. The secondary beam was formed upon efflux of molecules from the pressure shock through an orifice into a high-vacuum chamber compartment. The accelerated CF₃I molecular beam was generated by exciting the molecules with a powerful IR laser pulse in the pressure shock (in the secondary-beam source itself) and the beam of energetic CF₃ radicals was produced through the dissociation of CF₃I in either the pressure shock or the accelerated beam. High-density (10²⁰ molecule/(sr s)) beams of CF₃I molecules and CF₃ radicals with a kinetic energy of 1.2 and 0.4 eV, respectively, were obtained.