Visible Spectra of Lithium in Inert-Gas Matrices

Abstract

A careful study of the electronic spectrum of lithium atoms deposited in solid argon, krypton, and xenon showed that isolation of the incident lithium atoms improved with increasing matrix atomic weight, decreasing lithium-atom concentration, and decreasing deposition temperature and that dimerization of the incident atoms proceeds to a major extent except in very dilute samples of xenon deposited at 4°K. The lithium atomic absorptions showed multiplet structure similar to those reported earlier for metal atoms in inert-gas matrices. The multiplet components varied in relative intensity on sample warming. Nonnearest-neighbor metal—metal atom interactions were shown to be likely contributors to the observed spectral features. The present work indicates the importance of thorough study of concentration and sample-temperature dependence before multiplet splittings can be interpreted.