Optically excited emission and excitation spectra of solid xenon

The luminescence of solid xenon at 20 K has been excited optically in the wavelength range 1550Åto 1150Å. The 1760Å emission band due to a ${}^3{\sum }_u^{+}{\to }^1{\sum }_g^{+}$ transition of the $X{e}_2^{*}$ molecule is found in agreement with α^? or e^?-excitation. The excitation spectrum yields a relatively high quantum efficiency of the Γ(3/2) exciton series indicating efficient self-trapping. The Γ(1/2) exciton series and conduction band states have a low quantum efficiency.