High-Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy of van der Waals Clusters in Liquid Helium Droplets

Small van der Waals clusters of sulfur hexafluoride (SF$_6$) and mixed SF$_6$-rare gas clusters were prepared inside large droplets of helium-4, with each droplet consisting of about 4000 helium atoms. A diode laser was used to measure the high-resolution infrared spectra of these clusters in the vi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1996-06, Vol.272 (5268), p.1631-1634
Main Authors: Hartmann, Matthias, Miller, Roger E., Toennies, J. Peter, Vilesov, Andrej F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomic and molecular clusters
Atomic and molecular physics
Atomic interactions
Atoms
Chemistry
Climate
Coagulation
Dimers
Exact sciences and technology
Helium
Inhalants
Innovations
Lasers
Liquid helium
Liquids
Molecular spectroscopy
Molecules
Observations
Physics
Rotating liquids
Rotation
Rotational spectra
Scientific Concepts
Scientific imaging
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy and geometrical structure of clusters
Studies of special atoms, molecules and their ions
clusters
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Summary:Small van der Waals clusters of sulfur hexafluoride (SF$_6$) and mixed SF$_6$-rare gas clusters were prepared inside large droplets of helium-4, with each droplet consisting of about 4000 helium atoms. A diode laser was used to measure the high-resolution infrared spectra of these clusters in the vicinity of the $v_3$ vibrational mode. In all cases rotational structure was observed, indicating that the embedded species rotate nearly freely, although they had been cooled to a temperature of 0.37 kelvin. The results indicate that helium droplets are probably superfluid and thereby provide a uniquely cold yet gentle matrix for high-resolution spectroscopy.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.272.5268.1631