On the nature of emission bands of self-trapped excitons in solid xenon

Abstract

The paper presents the analysis of experimental data on the temperature dependence of luminescence spectra of solid xenon. The mechanisms of exciton self-trapping down to quasi-molecular states under different conditions are discussed. A new treatment of spectral distribution of intensity through quasi-molecular luminescence bands is proposed; according to the treatment, at T < 55 K the emission is associated with the transition from the lowest vibrational relaxation excited state 3Σ u +, while at T 60 K from the term 1Σ u +. Spectral redistribution of intensities in the 60–150 K range is due to an increase in the rate of vibrational relaxation in the state 1Σ u + with increasing the crystal temperature.