Vacuum UV Absorption Spectra of Liquid Water and Ice

Abstract

Fundamental absorption bands of water are studied in its various phases. Cubic ice has a well-defined absorption band at about 8.7 eV, while hexagonal and amorphous ices show only a gradual increase of absorption intensity toward the higher energy in the range from 7 to 10 eV. Absorption coefficient of liquid water is found to comply with Urbach rule at the low energy tail of the fundamental absorption.