Molecular Beam Magnetic Resonance Coupled With A Cryogenically Cooled, Pulsed Laser Vaporization Source And Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

A molecular beam magnetic resonance apparatus designed for the study of polyatomic molecules and small metal clusters is described. In contrast to atoms, vibrational and rotational excitation in clusters and molecules invoke spin relaxation upon a change of magnetic flux density. To prevent this, a pulsed laser vaporization source with a cryogenically cooled nozzle is utilized to minimize thermal excitation and a magnet setup has been designed to diminish magnetic field fluctuations. The apparatus is evaluated by Stern-Gerlach and resonance experiments on an atomic europium beam with the identical pulsed laser vaporization source.