title: The optical measurement of large cluster tracks in a gas jet.
abstract: We propose an optical method based on Rayleigh scattering for the direct measurement of cluster tracks produced by a high-pressure gas jet. The tracks of the argon and methane clusters are acquired by a high-speed camera. It is found that the cluster sizes of these tracks are within the range of 7E + 03~1E + 07 for argon and 2E + 06~4E + 08 for methane. Most argon tracks are continuous and their intensity changes gradually, while the majority of the methane tracks are separated into discrete fractions and their intensity alters periodically along the flight path, which may indicate the methane clusters are more unstable and easily to break up. Special methane clusters which may fly at an axial velocity of less than 2.5m/s are also found. This method is very sensitive to large gas cluster and has broad application prospects in cluster physics.
authors: Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
authors: Zhiyuan
authors: Z
authors: Chen
authors: Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
authors: Dong
authors: D
authors: Liu
authors: Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
authors: Jifeng
authors: J
authors: Han
authors: Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
authors: Lixin
authors: L
authors: Bai