Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Vol.113, No.52, 14291-14295, 2009
Interferences in the Transverse Profile of a Toluene Beam Induced by a Resonant RF Electric Field
In this work, the interaction of a supersonic beam of toluene diluted in He with a resonant oscillating RF field is investigated both experimental and theoretically. It is shown how the resonant field induces a peak structure in the transverse beam profile which can be explained by the onset of molecular interferences. Specifically, the interaction of a toluene beam of 0.12 eV of translational energy with a resonant RF field of 1.12 kV/m amplitude, and -610 kV/m(2) of gradient at the horizontal plane, during 160 mu s produces a series of maxima ill the transverse beam profile. The observed structure was satisfactorily reproduced by a quantum interference model based oil the interaction of two coherent superpositions induced by the resonant RF field. It appears the present experimental technique could be useful to investigate the spectroscopy and dynamical behavior of coherent beams of polar molecules.