EVEN-PARITY EXCITONS IN CONDENSED XENON

Excitation spectra of two-photon excited solid xenon have been obtaine d in the energy range of 8.4 to 11.1 eV. The measurements were perform ed at temperatures from 160 to 100 K. The even-parity Gamma(3/2) n=2, 3, and 4 Wannier excitons are observed in solid xenon. The n=2 and 3 e xcitons are shifted to higher energies relative to the energy of the c orresponding odd-parity excitons by approximately 80 and 50 meV, respe ctively. In addition, the excitation spectrum revealed a previously un observed series of excitons between 10.7 and II eV. These excitons for m a Rydberg series and are possibly assignable as excitons at the X po int of the Brillouin zone. The absorption linewidths (full width at ha lf maximum) of the 2p, 3p, and 4p excitons are measured to be approxim ately 80, 52, and 22 meV, respectively. Several models are investigate d in an attempt to explain the shift in energy between the s and p exc itons in liquid and solid xenon.