A fast (30μs) pulsed supersonic nozzle beam source: application to the photodissociation of CS2at 193 nm

Abstract
A short pulse width, high repetition rate, pulsed supersonic beam source is described. Pulse widths in the range 17-45 mu s (30 mu s FWHM typically) at repetition rates up to 120 Hz are obtained. The gas pulse shape and velocity distribution are fully characterised. Its application to the photodissociation dynamics of CS2 at 193 nm is presented. The vibrational populations for both CS2 to CS+S(1D, 3P) pathways are given and the branching ratio is found to be approximately 70% S(1D), 30% S(3P).