OBSERVATION OF TRIATOMIC IONIC EXCIMERS - EMISSION-SPECTRA OF KR2+CS

Triatomic ionic excimers have now been observed. Alkali rare-gas triat omic ionic molecules have been produced by electron beam excitation. E mission spectra centered at similar to 159 nm due to Kr2+Cs radiative decay were recorded. Lifetime and binding energy of the lowest excited state are estimated: the ground state is repulsive. Two formation cha nnels for these triatomic ions are proposed and their rate coefficient s estimated. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.