SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF XECL EMISSIONS IN XENON-BASED MIXTURES

In two-component Xe/HCl mixtures irradiated with alpha-particles, emis sions centred at 308, 345 and 470 nm are observed; they correspond to the (B --> X) and (C --> A) transitions of XeCl and to the transition (4(2)GAMMA --> 1(2)GAMMA) of Xe2Cl, respectively. The Xe2Cl* emissio n was only seen when HCl was present as traces and Xe was at a pressur e of over 200 Torr. The experiments showed the simultaneous presence o f the emissions of the third continuum of xenon (290 and 390 mm) which compete with those of XeCl. This implies that the Xe2+* ions and the ir precursors, which participate in the reactions of XeCl (B, C) forma tion are also at the origin of the third continuum. By means of intens ity measurements, the energy gap between states B and C of XeCl was es timated at 118+/-40 cm-1.