EMISSION SPECTRUM OF TRITIATED ACETYLENE
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Date
1982
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Ohio State University
Abstract
The spectrum of visible emission from tritiated acetylene gas in closed cell with no external excitation has been recorded. Two forms of gas were used: (1) $C_{2}HT$, synthesized by a modified Wilzbach process and mixed with $C_{2}H_{2}$: (2) mixtures of $C_{2}H_{2}$ and $T_{2}$. The gases were held in stainless steel cells of about $20 cm^{3}$ volume with sapphire windows. Pressures were 100-300 Torr. Emitted photons were analyzed with a 1/2-m monochromator, an RCA 31034A-12 photomultiplier, and standard counting electronics. The spectra exhibit the well-known Swan bands of $C_{2}$ and a broad band which may be $C_{2}H$. The CH 431.5 nm band was not prominent. The emission results entirely from the radioactivity of the gas. The energy of the fast beta produced in the tritium decay $T_{+}^{3}He^{+} + \beta^{-} +\upsilon^{-}$ is collisionally degraded in a variety of secondary processes. The observed spectrum can be understood only by examination of the complete degradation energy spectrum.