The supersonic expansion of pure copper vapor

Abstract

A high temperature source (2800 K) has been developed to produce a free jet expansion of copper vapor (T_source=2500 K, P_source∼100 Torr). The supersonic beam formed under these conditions was characterized through analysis of the laser induced excitation spectrum for the B ¹Σ_u⁺←X ¹Σ_g⁺ band system of Cu₂. Excitation was accomplished with an argon ion pumped stilbene cw dye laser. The Cu₂ formed in the expansion was characterized by a vibrational temperature, T_vib=950±100 K and a rotational temperature, T_rot=800±50 K. A new band system attributed to diatomic or triatomic copper has been observed.