Improved signal stability from a laser vaporization source with a liquid metal target

The translating and rotating rod or disk of a conventional laser vaporization cluster source is replaced by a liquid metal target. The self-regenerating liquid surface prevents cavities from being bored into the sample by laser ablation. The laser beam strikes a near pristine surface with each pulse, resulting in signals with much better short and long term stabilities. While this approach cannot be used for refractory metals such as tungsten and molybdenum, it is ideal for studies of bimetallic clusters, which can easily be prepared by laser vaporization of a liquid metal alloy. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.