Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
07:17
Non-equilibrium Microwave Plasma for Efficient High Temperature Chemistry
Published on: August 1, 2017
Neutral and ionic excimer molecules produced by reactive kinetics in a laser-produced plasma
Optics Letters
|September 15, 2009
Summary
Researchers observed excimer molecules, including Xenon Fluoride (XeF) and a novel ionic excimer (Xenon Rubidium ion) (XeRb)+, formed through reactive kinetics in laser-produced plasma.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Chemical Kinetics
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Laser-produced plasmas are complex environments where various chemical reactions occur.
- Excimer molecules are known to form in certain plasma conditions, but their formation via reactive kinetics in laser-produced plasmas has not been previously documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first observation of excimer molecules formed by reactive kinetics in a laser-produced plasma.
- To identify specific excimer species and their emission wavelengths.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing laser-produced plasma generation.
- Employing spectroscopic analysis to detect emitted light.
Main Results:
- Observed emission from Xenon Fluoride (XeF) at 351 nm.
- Identified a new ionic excimer, (Xenon Rubidium ion) (XeRb)+, emitting at 165 nm.
Conclusions:
- Reactive kinetics play a role in excimer molecule formation within laser-produced plasmas.
- The findings expand the understanding of chemical processes in laser-induced plasmas and introduce a new ionic excimer species.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Overview
Atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) is an analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of a sample by analyzing the light emitted from excited atoms. In AES, atoms in a sample are excited to higher energy levels by thermal energy from high-temperature sources, such as plasma, arcs, or sparks. When these excited atoms return to lower energy states, they emit light at specific wavelengths characteristic of each element. The resulting atomic emission spectrum, which consists of...
01:19Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Principle
Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) is the most widely used plasma source in atomic emission spectroscopy (AES), also known as Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The ICP source, or torch, consists of three concentric quartz tubes with argon gas flowing through them. A spark from a Tesla coil initiates the ionization of argon, generating a high-temperature plasma.
The ions and electrons produced interact with the fluctuating magnetic field created by a water-cooled...
The ions and electrons produced interact with the fluctuating magnetic field created by a water-cooled...
02:54Noble Gases
The elements in group 18 are noble gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon). They earned the name “noble” because they were assumed to be nonreactive since they have filled valence shells. In 1962, Dr. Neil Bartlett at the University of British Columbia proved this assumption to be false.
03:26Acids, Bases and Neutralization Reactions
An acid-base reaction is one in which a hydrogen ion, H+, is transferred from one chemical species to another. Such reactions are of central importance to numerous natural and technological processes, ranging from the chemical transformations within cells or lakes and oceans to the industrial-scale production of fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, and other substances essential to the society.
01:17Ion Exchange
Ion exchange chromatography separates charged molecules from a solution by reversibly exchanging them with mobile, or 'active', ions associated with the oppositely charged stationary phase. This method can be used to separate ions, soften and deionize water, and purify solutions. The polymers comprising the ion-exchange column are high-molecular-weight and chemically stable polymers, crosslinked to be porous and essentially insoluble. They are also functionalized with either acidic or basic...