LIGHT-EMISSION IN MATRIX-ASSISTED CLUSTER-CLUSTER REACTIONS

The agglomeration of small clusters of the coinage metals in noble gas matrices to form larger ones may be accompanied by the emission of li ght in the spectral range 280-1000 nm. Spectral analysis reveals that the part of the radiation intensity can be attributed to fluorescence of excited metal species Me-n (n = 1, 2, 3). A mechanism is proposed, according to which the gain in binding energy upon cluster formation m ay even lead to the ejection of excited fragments via unstable interme diate configurations. The other so far unknown emission bands were par tly attributed to larger clusters (n greater than or equal to 4). This assignment was confirmed by the discovery of the respective so far un known absorption bands of extremely low oscillator strength.