In this project in the Physical Chemistry program of the Chemistry Division, Lindsay and Lombardi are conducting resonance Raman studies on mass-selected metal clusters in rare gas matrices. Sputter-produced metal cluster cations are mass selected and co-deposited with excess rare gas on a window in the presence of low energy electrons. Neutralized cluster samples of mixed metal species and a variety of transition metal elements are interrogated by several different spectroscopic techniques. Vibrational constants will be obtained under conditions where there is little or no ambiguity as to the spectral carrier. Force constants, bond energies, and geometries of the clusters will be obtained from the data. %%% Atoms and macroscopic bulk material are two extremes of matter which are fairly well understood. Small atomic or molecular clusters represent the transition between these two states of matter. Scientists are interested in knowing more about clusters in order to learn more about quantum effects and bulk properties in matter. The results of these studies will help understand some of these issues and will also provide structural information which permits an understanding of the bonding properties of small metal clusters as a function of the position of the elements in the periodic table.
