A Velocity Map Imaging apparatus optimized for high-resolution crossed molecular beam experiments

Abstract

We present the design of a Velocity Map Imaging apparatus tailored to the demands of high-resolution crossed molecular beam experiments employing Stark or Zeeman decelerators. The key requirements for these experiments consist of the combination of a high relative velocity resolution for large ionization volumes and a broad range of relatively low lab-frame velocities. The SIMION software package was employed to systematically optimize the electrode geometries and electrical configuration. The final design consists of a stack of 16 tubular electrodes, electrically connected with resistors, which is divided into three electric field regions. The resulting apparatus allows for an inherent velocity blurring of less than 1.1 m/s for NO${}^{+}$ ions originating from a 3x3x3 mm ionization volume, which is negligible in a typical crossed beam experiment. The design was recently employed in several state of the art crossed-beam experiments, allowing the observation of fine details in the velocity distributions of the scattered molecules.

References in corpus (2)

• Imaging the onset of the resonance regime in low-energy NO-He collisions
• Design and construction of a multistage Zeeman decelerator for crossed molecular beams scattering experiments

Cited by in corpus (10)

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• Imaging Resonance Effects in C + H${}_2$ Collisions using a Zeeman Decelerator
• Near-Ambient Pressure Velocity Map Imaging
• Sensitive Low-Recoil VUV 1+1${}^{\prime }$ REMPI Detection of ND${}_3$
• Effect of Background Signal on Momentum Imaging
• Merging Two Molecular Beams of ND${}_3$ up to the Liouville Limit
• Intense and controlled beam of S(${}^1{D}_2$) atoms