title: Li/Li2 supersonic nozzle beam.
abstract: The characterization of a lithium supersonic nozzle beam has been made using spectroscopic techniques. It is found that at a stagnation pressure of 5.3 kPa (40 Torr) and a nozzle throat diameter of 0.4 mm the ground state vibrational population of Li(2) can be described by a Boltzmann distribution with T(v)= (195+/-30) K. The rotational temperature is found to be T(r)= (70+/-20) K by band shape analysis. Measurements by quadrupole mass spectrometer indicate that approximately 10-mol. % Li(2) dimers are present far downstream for an oven body temperature of 1370 K in the supersonic nozzle expansion. This measured mole fraction is in agreement with the existing dimerization theory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Crooks
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Way
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stwalley