arXiv subjects

Jonathon Heinrich

Publications and source records attributed to Jonathon Heinrich.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2009

Electric dipole moments of nitric acid-water complexes measured by cluster beam deflection

Water clusters embedding a nitric acid molecule HNO3(H2O)_{n=1-10} are investigated via electrostatic deflection of a molecular beam. We observe large paraelectric susceptibilities that greatly exceed the electronic polarizability, revealing the contribution of permanent dipole moments. The moments derived from the data are also significantly higher than those of pure water clusters. An enhancement in the susceptibility for n=5,6 and a rise in cluster abundances setting in at n=6 suggest that dissociation of the solvated acid molecule into ions takes place in this size range.

physics.atm-clus↗

arXiv2006

Electrostatic deflection of the water molecule, a fundamental asymmetric rotor

An inhomogeneous electric field is used to study the deflection of a supersonic beam of water molecules. The deflection profiles show strong broadening accompanied by a small net displacement towards higher electric fields. The profiles are in excellent agreement with a calculation of rotational Stark shifts. The molecular rotational temperature being the only adjustable parameter, beam deflection is found to offer an accurate and practical means of determining this quantity. A pair of especially strongly responding rotational sublevels, adding up to \approx 25% of the total beam intensity, are readily separated by deflection, making them potentially useful for further electrostatic manipulation.

physics.chem-ph↗