Generation and energy analysis of neutral C 60 seeded molecular beams up to 60 eV with electrostatic energy analyzer

Abstract

We report on the detailed study and energy analysis of aerodynamically accelerated neutral C 60 seeded molecular beams. Hyperthermal C 60 beams with kinetic energies up to 56 eV in helium and 73 eV in hydrogen were generated and energy analyzed as a function of nozzle temperature and backing pressure. For these measurements a 90° cylindrical energy analyzer was used in a continuous crossed beam mode with energy resolution of ΔE/ E = 0.07, instead of the conventional time-of-flight technique. A narrow C 60 energy distribution ( ΔE/ E = 0.11) is observed. The pronounced advantages of the energy analyzer method for 1–100 eV seeded beams are discussed. No evidence was found for the high kinetic energy endohedral He@C 60 down to 0.5% detection limit.