New emission spectra from oxygen

Abstract

New emission spectra have been observed from chemically produced excited oxygen. Evidence that the observed visible emission is due to oxygen dimer transitions is presented. Experimental results suggest that the observed oxygen dimer is stable O4 molecule rather than the usually observed Van der Waals-type dimolecular complex. The present system is discussed from the viewpoint of a new laser operating in the visible. The possibility of a similar oxygen-dimer laser operating in the near infrared is also discussed.