Energy transfer studies in krypton-xenon mixtures excited in a cooled DC discharge

The VUV spectrum of gaseous mixtures of krypton with a small amount of xenon added was investigated in the range 115-200 nm. The mixtures were excited in a capillary DC discharge where the capillary could be cooled by using liquid nitrogen. The mixed molecule band around the XeI resonance line at nm and the mixed molecule continuum to the long wavelength side from the line were analysed. The band around nm was identified as transitions between a weakly bound excited state and the weakly bound ground state of XeKr molecules. When cooling the capillary wall, the appearance of the Xe₂ continuum was observed. The effect is ascribed to energy transfer between molecular states as a consequence of radiation trapping in the band around nm. The role of the mixed molecule in the formation of the VUV spectrum of the gas mixture is discussed and underlined. Received 12 May 1999 and Received in final form 27 August 1999