Electron-beam-induced fluorescence of carbon dioxide clusters. II. Molecular beam with clusters

The fluorescence of CO₂ clusters excited by an electron beam in a molecular beam formed from a free jet expansion of carbon dioxide is investigated. Data on the fluorescence of the clusters are obtained by comparing the electron-beam-induced fluorescence with the signal appearing in an electronic-fluorescence detector as a result of reflection of the cluster beam from an obstacle placed after the electron beam, as well as with the intensity of the cluster beam. It is established that, unlike a jet expansion, for CO₂ clusters in a molecular beam the fluorescence yield from a cluster decreases significantly with increasing cluster size and is very small for clusters of large size. It is concluded on the basis of the results from an investigation of the fluorescence of CO₂ clusters that the electron-beam-induced fluorescence technique can be used for measurements in molecular beams with CO₂ clusters. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 63–71 (July 1997)