Spectroscopy of transient species produced by photodissociation or photoionization in a supersonic free-jet expansion

Abstract

Transient species have been produced and characterized in a supersonic free-jet expansion, which served to cool them and hence simplify their laser-induced fluorescence spectra. A brief description of the technique is given. The results for several varieties of transient species are then overviewed. Species studied include isolated molecular ions, ionic clusters, small neutral free radicals and moderate-sized organic free radicals.