Observation of emission from xenon hydride molecules

A previously unobserved band with an intensity peak at a wavelength of 190 nm and a halfwidth of 6 nm has been detected in the emission spectra of a plasma produced by a fast repetitively pulsed discharge in a xenon-hydrogen mixture. The present investigation has determined that this band is connected with the penetration of some impurity into the mixture. Specifically, the spectral positions of intensity troughs in the 175-200 nm range are sufficiently close to the wavelengths of the Schumann-Runge bands; hence, it can be assumed that the origin of the troughs is connected with the photoabsorption of molecular oxygen penetrating into the cell through rubber seals. The results are of interest in connection with the development of XeH lasers.