Internal excitation of ethanol molecules emitted during cluster-surface collisions

Results obtained from experimental studies of ethanol cluster collisions with graphite surfaces are presented. The initially cold clusters are heated during surface contact which induces fragmentation. The internal temperature of emitted ethanol molecules is found to equal the surface temperature up to 600 K. For surface temperatures of 600–1400 K, the internal temperature is close to 600 K independent of surface temperature. Angular and velocity distributions are well described by a model in which molecules evaporate from parent clusters gliding along the surface. The cluster decomposition dynamics are discussed and the results are compared with earlier studies of cluster-surface interactions.