Kinetic processes of electron beam generated XeF* and Xe2F* excimers

Abstract

Kinetic processes of XeF and Xe2F have been investigated experimentally in electron beam excited Ar/Xe/NF3 mixtures. In Xe/NF3 mixtures no vibrational relaxation was observed in the XeF(B, C) states due to the rapid two-body quenching of XeF(C) by Xe. Two- and three-body quenching constants of XeF(B, C) were measured for several collision partners. An investigation of the Xe2F production process showed that XeF(C) is the precursor of Xe2F. Formation and quenching rate constants for Xe2F have been determined. The kinetic processes of the XeF–Xe2F system can be described by a relatively simple kinetic model.