Even-parity excitons in condensed xenon.

Abstract

Excitation spectra of two-photon excited solid xenon have been obtained in the energy range of 8.4 to 11.1 eV. The measurements were performed at temperatures from 160 to 100 K. The even-parity {Gamma}(3/2) {ital n}=2, 3, and 4 Wannier excitons are observed in solid xenon. The {ital n}=2 and 3 excitons are shifted to higher energies relative to the energy of the corresponding odd-parity excitons by approximately 80 and 50 meV, respectively. In addition, the excitation spectrum revealed a previously unobserved series of excitons between 10.7 and 11 eV. These excitons form a Rydberg series and are possibly assignable as excitons at the {ital X} point of the Brillouin zone. The absorption linewidths (full width at half maximum) of the 2{ital p}, 3{ital p}, and 4{ital p} excitons are measured to be approximately 80, 52, and 22 meV, respectively. Several models are investigated in an attempt to explain the shift in energy between the {ital s} and {ital p} excitons in liquid and solid xenon. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}