Relaxation Processes of Electronic Excited States in Solid Neon, Argon and Krypton

Abstract

The excitation spectra of the atomic and the molecular self-trapped exciton (STE) luminescence are studied in solid Ne, Ar and Kr. Also their luminescence spectra are measured at various energies of monochromatic excitation. On the basis of the excitation and the luminescence spectra, the relaxation processes from an initial excited state to the STE are discussed, and it is concluded that the difference between the relaxation processes to the atomic and the molecular STE’s is basically related to the potential barriers in the formation process of the molecule.