Molecular lens applied to benzene and carbon disulfide molecular beams Available to Purchase

A molecular lens of the nonresonant dipole force formed by focusing a nanosecond IR laser pulse has been applied to benzene and $CS2$ molecular beams. Using the velocity map imaging technique for molecular ray tracing, characteristic molecular lens parameters including the focal length $(f ),$ minimum beam width $(W),$ and distance to the minimum beam width position $(D)$ were determined. The laser intensity dependence of the observed lens parameters was in good agreement with theoretical predictions. W was independent of the laser peak intensity $(I0),$ whereas f and D varied linearly with $1/I0.$ The differences in lens parameters between the molecular species were well correlated with the polarizability per mass values of the molecules. A high chromatographic resolution of $Rs=0.84$ was achieved between the images of benzene molecular beams undeflected and deflected by the lens. The possibilities for a new type of chromatography are discussed.