A compact hexapole state-selector for NO radicals.

Focusing of molecular beams using an electrostatic hexapole is a mature technique to produce samples of state-selected molecules. The ability to efficiently focus molecules depends on the properties of the molecular species of interest, the length of the hexapole state selector, as well as on the maximum electric field strength that can be achieved in these devices. In particular for species with a small effective dipole moment such as nitric oxide (NO), hexapole state selectors of several meters in length are required to focus the beam. We report on a novel design for an electrostatic hexapole state-selector that allows for a maximum electric field strength of 260 kV/cm, reducing significantly the length of the hexapole that is required to focus the beam. We demonstrate the focusing of a molecular beam of NO radicals (X (2)Π1∕2, v = 0, J = 1∕2, f) using a hexapole of only 30 cm length. A beamstop is integrated inside the hexapole at the geometric center of the device where the molecular trajectories have the largest deviation from the beam axis, effectively blocking the carrier gas of the molecular beam at minimum loss of NO density. The performance of the hexapole state-selector is investigated by state-selective laser induced fluorescence detection, as well as by two-dimensional imaging of the focused packet of NO radicals. The resulting packet of NO radicals has a density of 9 ± 3 × 10(10) cm(-3) and a state purity of 99%.

Quantum-state resolved bimolecular collisions of velocity-controlled OH with NO radicals.

Whereas atom-molecule collisions have been studied with complete quantum-state resolution, interactions between two state-selected molecules have proven much harder to probe. Here, we report the measurement of state-resolved inelastic scattering cross sections for collisions between two open-shell molecules that are both prepared in a single quantum state. Stark-decelerated hydroxyl (OH) radicals were scattered with hexapole-focused nitric oxide (NO) radicals in a crossed-beam configuration. Rotationally and spin-orbit inelastic scattering cross sections were measured on an absolute scale for collision energies between 70 and 300 cm(-1). These cross sections show fair agreement with quantum coupled-channels calculations using a set of coupled model potential energy surfaces based on ab initio calculations for the long-range nonadiabatic interactions and a simplistic short-range interaction. This comparison reveals the crucial role of electrostatic forces in complex molecular collision processes.

Communication: Magnetic dipole transitions in the OH A 2Σ+ ← X 2Π system.

We report on the observation of magnetic dipole allowed transitions in the well-characterized A (2)Σ(+) - X (2)Π band system of the OH radical. A Stark decelerator in combination with microwave Rabi spectroscopy is used to control the populations in selected hyperfine levels of both Λ-doublet components of the X (2)Π(3/2), v = 0, J = 3/2 ground state. Theoretical calculations presented in this Communication predict that the magnetic dipole transitions in the A (2)Σ(+), v = 1 ← X (2)Π, v = 0 band are weaker than the electric dipole transitions by a factor of 2.58 × 10(3) only, i.e., much less than commonly believed. Our experimental data confirm this prediction.