H-2(A3SIGMA-G+-]B3SIGMA-U+) CONTINUUM EMISSION EXCITED BY LOW-ENERGY RARE-GAS ION COLLISIONS

Hydrogen molecules were excited into the H2(a) state by impact of Ar+ ions in a beam at 0.5-48 eV relative energy. Optical emission in the H2(a-b) continuum as well as in several H, Ar, and Ar+ lines was measured. Intense H2(a) emission occurring below the thermodynamic threshold for H2(a) excitation by ground state Ar+ indicates that transfer of electronic energy from metastable Ar+ is the dominant excitation process. The reaction is promising as a pumping mechanism for a new tunable uv laser. © 1979 The American Physical Society.