Continuous emissions of argon and krypton in the near ultraviolet

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Abstract
The spectroscopic and kinetic study of argon and krypton luminescence is carried out using two complementary methods. Over the range of wavelengths from 200 to 800 nm, the optical spectrum of these gases, determined by means of a single photoelectron spectrophotometer, shows the presence of atomic lines and continuums. In the case of argon, between 400 and 500 nm, a weak continuum appears. This continuum had never been observed under similar experimental conditions. The decay of the luminosity is reconstituted by means of the time‐amplitude conversion method. The decrease of light of continuums is described by a difference of exponential terms. The variation of time constants with pressure allows the kinetic scheme which describes the mechanisms of the postluminescence to be deduced. The study of the continuums has confirmed the formation of diatomic molecules of rare gases as the result of triple collisions. The kinetic scheme is as follows: Al→k1 Al′+hν1, Al+2A→k3 A 2+A, and Al2→k′1 Al2+hν0 (continuum). The molecular states created have a very short lifetime (k′−11 ∼ 5 ns) compared with those of the lowest radiative states (3–5 μs). The rate constant k3 is very important (k3 ∼ 10−30 cm6s−1). The atomic states responsible for the creation of dimers certainly belong to the configurations 3p5 5p in argon and 4p5 6p in krypton.

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