DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXTENDED PATH-LENGTH SUPERSONIC SLIT SOURCE FOR THESTUDY OF HIGHLY CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENTS

An extended slit nozzle source, whose dimensions exceed previous desig ns by more than an order of magnitude and which maintains its structur al integrity at temperatures in excess of 1100 K, has been designed to create an extended path length zone for the study of the interaction- reaction of corrosive reactants at high concentration. We facilitate t he interaction of an increased number density of reactants when an exp anding sodium flux (Na-x greater than or equal to 10(21)/cm(2) s) shea th formed from the slit nozzle is intersected by comparable halogen at om fluxes. The construction of the large scale dual oven systems neces sary to carry out such experiments using both pure and seeded alkali e xpansions is outlined with emphasis on the fabrication of the extended slit nozzle source. The operation of this alkali source is considered as it creates a long path length high concentration cooperative envir onment which might be used to monitor exciplex formation, to develop a visible chemical laser oscillator, or to study the long range interac tion of excited electronic states. The optical train necessary to prob e this high temperature corrosive environment is also outlined. (C) 19 96 American Institute of Physics.