Structured emission of relaxing systems: molecular excitons in rare-gas crystals

We have computed the emission spectra of relaxing excitated-state systems in solids as a function of the rates of radiative decay (γ) from excited to ground state and non-radiative decay (γ) within the excited state. When these are comparable a pronounced dip is obtained in the central region of the spectrum, which then may have the appearance of two distinct, unrelated emission bands. The computations well reproduce the observed W and M₂ bands in Ar crystals. Accordingly, these arise from the initially excited and near repulsive regions of the A¹Σ⁺ emitting state, respectively.