Electron excitation coefficients for 2p and 3p levels of Xe

Abstract

Electron excitation rate coefficients for 2p (2p1, 2p2, 2p3, 2p4, 2p5, 2p6) and 3p(3p5, 3p6, 3p7, 3p8, 3p10) (in Paschen notation) levels of xenon atom have been measured by using electron drift tube technique. The absolute excitation coefficients were obtained from the optical signal at the anode in Townsend xenon discharges, after correction for detector quantum efficiency. The ionization coefficients were determined from the spatial emission profile. The measurement were made for the electric field to xenon atom number density ratios (E/N) from Vm2 to Vm2. The data were obtained between moderate E/N values where electrons are in equilibrium and very high E/N values where electrons may not be in equilibrium with the local field. It was found that at the highest values of E/N heavy particles do not contribute to the excitation under the present conditions. The absolute excitation coefficients for the studied levels of xenon are to our knowledge the only experimental data available in the literature.