Measurements on a molecular beam apparatus for mass spectrometric study of reactions in flames

Summary The formation of a molecular beam in sampling 1 torr to 1 atm. gases (Ar or H₂) is studied for three diameters of the sampling orifice. To modulate the beam, use is made of a mechanical chopper placed very near the sampling orifice. This enables us to measure the scattering of the beam by collisions between beam molecules. From our measurements it follows that these collisions are very important for >0.020 mm at an initial pressure of 1 atm. We discuss the consequences of our results for mass spectrometric studies of flames.