Knowledge Bank

Optical luminescence of both argon matrix isolated $N2$ and solid $N2$ excited by 58.4 nm photons is observed. In both systems Goldstein-Kaplan bands and atomic N emission $(2D0\to 4S0)$ are seen. Vegard-Kaplan bands $(N2,A3\Sigma u+\to X1\Sigma g+)$ are observed in argon matrix Isolated $N2$ but not in solid $N2$. Photoelectron spectroscopy of solid $N2$ using 58.4 nm $photons1$ has indicated that the lowest three electronic levels of $N2$ are populated; however, no $N2+$ emission is observed between 200 and 700 nm. All photoluminescence from both the solid and matrix is red-shifted relative to gas phase results. The formation of the state, which previously has not been observed in the solid or matrix, is attributed to electron- recombination, since recent theoretical $work2$ on recombination indicates the formation of a $\mathrm{<mrow\; data-mjx-texclass="ORD">3</mrow>}\Pi u$ state of $N2$.