Time-of-flight velocity analysis of atomic and molecular beams

Conditions required for resolving a given beam speed distribution were evaluated by calculating the time-of-flight (TOF) signal for a finite open time of the beam shutter. Design criteria for a beam chopper and detection system are discussed in terms of the resolution, the range of speeds to be measured, and the optimum signal to noise ratio. A TOF system for detection of high intensity molecular beams with large speed ratios, as well as for low intensity scattered beams, is described. Experimental results are presented.