BCl3/HN3 gas breakdown behavior: Observation of BCl(A-X) emission

Abstract
BCl(AX) band emission peaked at 272 nm plus N2(CB) spectra from dc breakdown initiated detonations in HN3/BCl3 gas mixtures are reported. Negligible NH(AX) emission at 336.0/337.1 nm is observed in contrast to its strong intensity in pure HN3 breakdown‐induced decomposition. The presence of the HN3 detonation appears to enhance the production of BCl(AX) emission indicating the liberation of chemical energy from the HN3 decomposition to excited BCl but at low effective yields of 8×10−4%.