# Production of rotationally cold methyl radicals in pulsed supersonic beams

## TL;DR

This paper compares two methods for producing rotationally cold methyl radicals in pulsed supersonic beams, finding similar efficiency and temperature profiles for both methods, with methane as the optimal precursor.

## Contribution

It provides a direct comparison of glow discharge and dielectric barrier discharge sources for methyl radical production in supersonic beams.

## Key findings

- Both sources have comparable efficiency.
- Molecular beams exhibit similar rotational and translational temperatures.
- Methane is identified as the best precursor species.

## Abstract

We present a comparison of two technically distinct methods for the generation of rotationally cold, pulsed supersonic beams of methyl radicals (CH3): a plate discharge source operating in the glow regime, and a dielectric barrier discharge source (DBD). The results imply that the efficiency of both sources is comparable, and that molecular beams with similar translational and rotational temperatures are formed. Methane (CH4) proved to be the most suitable radical precursor species.