A general consistent model for formation and decay of rare gas excimers in the 10−2–10+5 mbar pressure range, with application to krypton

Using data from alpha excitation single photon counting experiments at 100–1200 mbar and from literature reports in other pressure ranges a general consistent model is proposed for the formation and decay of the rare gas excimers in the pressure range 10−2–10+5 mbar. Special attention has been paid to the study of the vibrational relaxation processes. In this model two atomic excited states (3P2,1) and six molecular excimer states (1,3Σ+g, 1,3Σ*u, 1,3Σ0u) are interconnected by a number of processes, excimer formation, atomic and molecular excitation transfer, vibrational relaxation, diffusion, resonance radiation, collision induced radiation, and excimer radiation. As a result the loss rates of the relevant atomic and molecular states of krypton are determined.