Relaxation of electronically excited products of solid-state reactions in the crystal lattice

Abstract

The mechanisms of deactivation of electronically excited products of decomposition of silver azide (nitrogen molecules) are examined. A model of dipole interaction with the electron subsystem of the crystal is used to estimate the rate constants of deactivation with formation of electron-hole pairs (∼109 s−1) and energy transfer to a band hole (∼10−12 cm3 s−1). The values obtained confirm the basic postulate underlying the models of solid-phase chain reactions: the preferential formation of electronic excitations of the crystal lattice during the deactivation of excited decomposition products.