Infrared Laser Spectroscopy of Molecular Beams

Abstract

A newly constructed crossed molecular beam apparatus and tunable infrared laser system is described. The Doppler effect has been used to measure the narrow velocity distribution in a molecular beam formed from a free jet expansion and to study the translational relaxation which occurs downstream of the nozzle orifice. In addition a laser-crossed molecular beam experiment is described which is designed to measure the rotational and vibrational state dependence of the total scattering cross section of hydrogen fluoride with helium.