Generation of Lithium Clusters in Helium Plasma Flow

Abstract

The formation of lithium clusters in a helium flow is considered within the method considering the widths of energy levels. It is shown that lithium atoms in a plasma flow of inert helium form a cluster consisting of lithium only. In addition to lithium clusters with interatomic distances corresponding to interatomic distances of the equilibrium state, long-lived excitations of clusters with interatomic distances of 13 Bohr radii are observed. However, if excitations are removed, such systems transfer into the ground state or decay. In addition, it is observed that Li–He systems are long-lived under conditions of external excitations but quickly lose helium when these excitations are removed.