Low energy electron-impact emission from gases

Abstract

To investigate higher excited states, including the superexcited states proposed by Platzman, a method was developed to analyse the entire emission spectra from the gases electron-bombarded with electrons of energy lower than 300 eV. From several standpoints (energetic relations, cascading processes and kinetic isotopic effects), the existence of the higher excited states could be confirmed in some simple aliphatic and aromatic compounds. On the basis of the results, their fragmentation schemes in radiolysis are discussed. The most extensive conclusions were drawn on comparing the ratio of H and D atoms produced from partially deuterated compounds by measuring the intensity of the corresponding Balmer lines.