Studies on the production and stability of large C-N(+) and M(x)(+)R(N) (M=C, Si, Ge and R=Ar, Kr) clusters

We present mass spectra obtained using a simple cluster source based on the mixing of the plasma produced from the laser ablation of a solid target with the supersonic expansion of a noble gas. Depending on the formation conditions, this source produces several distinct types of cluster, such as the strongly bonded covalent C-N(+) and the weakly bonded C+/Si+/Ge+-doped noble gas clusters. From the analysis of the observed time-of-flight spectra as a function of the source conditions, we are able to infer the possible microscopic mechanisms responsible for the formation of these clusters.