FORMATION AND DECAY OF TRANSIENT XENON DIHYDRIDE RESULTING FROM HYDROCARBON RADIOLYSIS IN A XENON MATRIX

The formation and decay of transient xenon dihydride upon annealing xe non-hydrocarbon systems irradiated with fast electrons at 15 K was mon itored by FTIR spectroscopy. It is concluded that XeH2 is a chemically identical species, which can be generated in different ways. The two bands of these species (positioned at 1181 and 1166 cm(-1)) show essen tially different behaviour with annealing temperature. Evidence for a chemical reaction of xenon dihydride with trans-2-butene occurring in a xenon matrix at 60-70 K was obtained. The addition of electron Scave ngers results in a dramatic decrease in the XeH2 yield. It is suggeste d that xenon dihydride results from H atoms rather than from charged p recursors.