Bubble formation and decay in 3He and 4He clusters -: art. no. 233401

The energy transfer in He-3 and He-4 clusters electronically excited by monochromatic synchrotron radiation is investigated by luminescence spectroscopy. Depending on the cluster size and the isotopic constitution, either sharp, broadened, or shifted emission bands of single He molecules are observed. The spectral features show that He molecules emit light either within a bubble inside the cluster or in the vacuum after desorption from the cluster. From the luminescence intensity, the cluster diameter, and the radiative lifetime, an average velocity of similar to7 m/s of bubbles in He-4 clusters could be deduced. In the nonsuperfluid He-3 clusters this velocity was observed to be significantly lower.