The Absorption Spectra of Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Water Vapor, and Ethylene in the Vacuum Ultraviolet

Abstract

Quantitative absorption measurements were made of methane, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and ethylene at 30°C in a Cario and Schmidt-Ott vacuum fluorite spectrograph from 1400 to 2000A. Values of the atmospheric absorption coefficient, α, in the equation, I=I0 exp(—αx), ranging from two for carbon dioxide to 800 for ethylene were found. Resonance wave-lengths and oscillator strengths were calculated from absorption curves and found to be consistent with refractive index data.