TEA CO2-Laser Induced SF6 + Ba Beam-Surface Ionization

A TEA CO₂-laser induced SF₆ + Ba beam-surface ionization process has been studied when vibrational excitation of SF₆ molecules was carried out at (and near) the polished surface of the electrically heated up to 675 K polycristalline Ba. Electron emission and negative molecular ion signal were detected. The dependence of the molecular ion signal on laser fluence and frequency (on SF₆ molecular absorption) as well as on the SF₆ gas pressure in the nozzle were studied. The results reveal a nonlinear, probably multiphoton character of the molecular ion formation and a clear vibrational selectivity i.e. vibrational enhancement, of the SF₆ + Ba beam-surface ionization process. Possible mechanisms of the negative molecular ion formation in the IR laser induced SF₆ + Ba beam-surface ionization process are discussed.