PRODUCTION OF ALUMINUM CLUSTERS BY DIRECT LASER VAPORIZATION OF ALUMINUM NITRIDE

We report the production of aluminum clusters (Al(x)+, x up to 62 and Al(x)-, x up to 42) in a FTMS by direct laser vaporization of aluminum nitride. This is the first observation of pure metal clusters from a metal compound. A pressure burst composed of N and/or N2 accompanies cluster formation and presumably helps stabilize the nascent clusters. The cluster intensity distributions are similar to those obtained using aluminum targets. The thermalized cation clusters do not react with O2, unless they are kinetically excited. Deviations in the branching ratios from earlier beam investigations may result from pressure/timescale differences in the two experiments.