The longitudinal excitation of vapors of complex organic compounds by an electron beam

A plasma-beam discharge in vapors of complex organic compounds mixed with nitrogen is obtained with a subnanosecond duration of the forward pulse front of a high-current electron beam. By comparing the fluorescence spectra of anthracene vapor in optical and electronic excitation, it is determined that the molecules acquire a supply of vibrational energy in the excited state, which depends on the energy of the electrons of HF, dc, and pulsed discharges, the electron beam, and the plasma-beam discharge. The appearance in the latter case of a marked vibrational structure in the fluorescence spectrum indicates a relatively low mean energy of the plasma electrons.