Doping helium nanodroplets with high temperature metals: Formation of chromium clusters

A new method for stable and continuous doping of superfluid helium nanodroplets (He-N) with high-melting elements such as refractory metals is presented. The method exploits the advantages of electron bombardment heating and avoids stray fields induced by high currents or high frequency fields. It is thus especially suitable for magnetic studies of atoms and clusters in He-N. The source is characterized by means of mass spectroscopic investigations of He-N doped with chromium atoms and clusters. Source temperatures of up to (1650 +/- 50). degrees C were reached and Cr clusters up to Cr-9 could be formed in He-N. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3692330]