Effects of molecular gases on Xe electroluminescence and electron resonance trapping

Summary Xenon electroluminescence (EL) has been studied in the presence of small amounts of molecular gases and some results are reported. A theoretical model, which explains the EL in terms of a peak in the electron energy distribution near the energy of subexcitative resonance at 7.77 eV (electron resonance trapping), was developed to take into account the effects of a molecular gas present at low concentrations. The results obtained with air, at concentrations lower than 10³ p.p m., seem to fit well the developed model. Supported in part by GNEQP-C.N.R.