Electronic energy transfer in argon–xenon mixtures excited by electron bombardment

The time dependences of the vacuum–ultraviolet emissions from xenon-doped argon are measured following pulsed excitation by a low intensity e-beam. The argon continuum at ∼1250 Å is observed to be quenched in electronic energy transfer collisions with xenon atoms, forming Xe* (1P1), with the rate constant (4.39±0.05) ×10−10 cm3/sec. The xenon continuum near 1470 Å is found to be due to collision induced radiation from Xe* (3P2) with the rate constant (3.2±0.7) ×10−16 cm3/sec, as well as radiation from high vibrational levels of Xe2* (0u+) which is formed from Xe* (3P1) and Xe(1S0) with the rate constant (2.1±0.2) ×10−31 cm6/sec with argon as the third body. Collisional de-excitation of Xe* (3P1) to Xe* (3P2) by argon is observed with the rate constant (1.5±0.3) ×10−14 cm3/sec. The xenon continuum at ∼1720 Å is formed from Xe* (3P2) and Xe(1S0) with the rate constant (2.15±0.25) ×10−32 cm6/sec with argon as the third body.