A compact hot-nozzle Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer

Abstract

A newly constructed pulsed nozzle, Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer utilizes a Fabry–Perot cavity consisting of spherical resonators having diameters of only 10 cm. Tests of this very compact-cavity system show that its sensitivity is only slightly lower than that of a comparably configured system of the Balle–Flygare design having resonators with diameters of 36 cm. With a volume 50 times smaller than in conventional systems, the compact cavity also requires a much smaller vacuum chamber which can be pumped by a relatively small 6 in. diffusion pump. The system includes an integral ceramic nozzle which can be heated to temperatures above 1000 °C. Spectrometer characteristics have been demonstrated by means of experiments on OCS isotopomers in ground and excited vibrational states, ArOCS complexes, and chloroketene, a reactive intermediate formed by pyrolysis of chloroacetylchloride.