Metastable oxygen atom detection using rare gas matrices

Abstract

Abstract:The use of solid rare gas matrices as detectors of metastable oxygen atoms is investigated. A 100 eV electron beam colliding with N2O target gas is used as the source of O( 1 S). Parameters considered are surface temperature, time delay of excimer emission and spectral response to O( 1 S). In all cases detector sensitivity maximised at temperatures ≤20K. Krypton was found to provide the most sensitive surface and Ne the least.

Detection of Metastable Atoms and Molecules using Rare Gas Matrices

“…Their results are shown in Fig. From Kedzierski et al (2010a). Very similar data were demonstrated by Yurtaeva et al (1990) and we note the similarity to the earlier work where electron or photon bombardment of rare gas matrices containing a trace of oxygen occurred (Schoen and Broida, 1960;Taylor et al, 1981;Walker et al, 1981).…”

“…For example, Crepin and Tramer (1992) show that radiation from the mercury 6p 3 P 0 metastable state is observable following UV irradiation of Hg atoms trapped in a rare gas matrix. In this connection, we have obtained promising results with solid nitrogen matrices which will be reported separately (Kedzierski and McConkey, 2014). Detection of metastable charged fragments could also be a fruitful area of research, as demonstrated by the early work of Corr (1987) who used a Xe matrix to monitor O + ( 2 P, 2 D) production from O 2 .…”

“…It got progressively broader and moved to the red as the rare gas host was changed Ne to Ar to Kr to Xe. Kedzierski et al (2010a) investigated how the excimer lifetimes varied with rare gas host by comparing the TOF spectra obtained using the different matrices. .…”

“…The two lifetimes corresponded to transitions of slightly different energies (wavelengths) in the matrix. From Kedzierski et al (2010a). 13.…”

“…To date, O( 1 S) production from the following molecules has been studied-O 2 , CO, NO, N 2 O, H 2 O, D 2 O, CO 2 , and SO 2 (Derbyshire et al, 1997;Kedzierski et al, 1998Kedzierski et al, , 2000Kedzierski et al, , 2010aMcConkey, 1993, 1994;LeClair et al, 1992LeClair et al, , 1996. Much of the data has been discussed by McConkey et al (2008).…”