Low energy electron collision phenomena in HgBr 2 and CH 3HgBr relevant to discharge pumped mercury bromide lasers

Abstract

Dissociative excitation of HgBr radical in the B-state has been observed as a result of collisions of low energy electrons with HgBr 2 and CH 3HgBr molecules. By using the most intense band of HgBr (B, ν′ = 0-X, ν″ = 22) transition at 502 nm, emission cross sections have been measured in the electron energy range 1–100 eV. The threshold electron energy for the observation of (B-X) band system has been determined to be 6.5 and 7.0 eV for HgBr 2 and CH 3HgBr molecules, respectively. These energies are in good agreement with the values previously reported by other investigators.