Modelling the broad-band continuum of the gas-discharge plasma of a krypton+xenon mixture

Abstract

A semiempirical calculational procedure is used to study the broad-band continuum observed in the VUV emission spectra of the gas-discharge plasma in a Kr+Xe mixture. On the assumption that the indicated continuum is caused by bound-free v, 0+(3P1)→epsilon var,0+(1S0) transitions in KrXe* and Xe2 molecules, the population distribution over the vibrational levels of the 0+(3P1) states of both molecules is obtained, and their vibrational temperature is determined using various methods of exciting the spectrum. In order to obtain better agreement of the calculated and experimental spectra, it is proposed to modify the repulsive branch of the 0+(1S0) potential curve of the KrXe* molecule.