ELECTRON-IMPACT INFRARED EXCITATION-FUNCTIONS FROM THE 5D LEVELS OF XENON

Electron impact optical cross sections of thirteen infrared transitions from the 5d levels of xenon have been measured over an electron energy range of 10 to 150 eV. The measurements were made using a commercially built Fourier transform spectrophotometer and an electron gun constructed in-house. Absolute calibration of the data was accomplished by comparison with the helium 728.1 nm cross section. Pressure in the experiment was kept at 4 mTorr or less, but at these pressures the excitation functions still show some dependence on operating pressure. No attempt was made to determine the degree of polarisation of the radiation in the experiment.