TRANSLATIONAL ENERGY-RELEASE FOLLOWING MULTIPHOTON DISSOCIATION OF ORGANOMETALLICS

We have measured translational energy distributions for state selected metal atoms produced by multiphoton dissociation (MPD) of organometal lics in supersonic nozzle beams under isolated molecule conditions. Gr ound state chromium atoms liberated by 361 nm MPD of Cr(CO)(6) are pro duced at approximate to 2200 K. This shows that the only significant M PD pathway must be a net three photon process. S-7(3) tungsten atoms p roduced from W(CO)(6) are produced in a approximate to 4000 K Maxwell- Boltzmann distribution. The results of these experiments are discussed in terms of energetics and their implications for laser driven partic le and thin film formation.