Welcome to the new version of CaltechAUTHORS. Login is currently restricted to library staff. If you notice any issues, please email coda@library.caltech.edu
Published September 12, 2012 | Submitted
Journal Article Open

The Buffer Gas Beam: An Intense, Cold, and Slow Source for Atoms and Molecules

Abstract

Beams of atoms and molecules are stalwart tools for spectroscopy and studies of collisional processes. The supersonic expansion technique can create cold beams of many species of atoms and molecules. However, the resulting beam is typically moving at a speed of 300−600 m s^(−1) in the laboratory frame and, for a large class of species, has insufficient flux (i.e., brightness) for important applications. In contrast, buffer gas beams can be a superior method in many cases, producing cold and relatively slow atoms and molecules (see Figure 1) in the laboratory frame with high brightness and great versatility. There are basic differences between supersonic and buffer gas cooled beams regarding particular technological advantages and constraints. At present, it is clear that not all of the possible variations on the buffer gas method have been studied. In this review, we will present a survey of the current state of the art in buffer gas beams, and explore some of the possible future directions that these new methods might take.

Additional Information

© 2012 American Chemical Society. Received 14 September 2011 Published online 9 May 2012 Published in print 12 September 2012 Thanks to John Barry, Sid Cahn, Dave DeMille, Richard Hedricks, Emil Kirilov, Dave Patterson, Dave Rahmlow, Julia Rasmussen, and Joe Smallman for helping us gather information for this paper and to Colin Connolly and Elizabeth Petrik for feedback on the manuscript.

Attached Files

Submitted - 1111.2841.pdf

Files

1111.2841.pdf
Files (5.1 MB)
Name Size Download all
md5:db344f0f5d8acb5e91629c7429ff9f17
5.1 MB Preview Download

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 17, 2023