Absorption Spectrum of Silver Atoms in Solid Argon, Krypton, and Xenon

Abstract

The uv absorption spectrum of trapped silver atoms has been studied in Ar, Kr, and Xe matrices at 20°K and above. With respect to the gas phase, transitions corresponding to ${}^2{\mathrm{P\hspace{0.17em}\leftarrow \hspace{0.17em}}}^{2}S$ were observed to be shifted to the blue by an amount characteristic of the particular matrix. In each matrix, four absorption bands were observed with half‐widths ranging from 170–300 cm⁻¹. With increasing temperature the absorption maxima exhibit further shifts together with increasing half‐widths. For Xe and Kr these changes were found to be reversible between 20°K and $\frac{1}{3}$ of the melting point of the matrix.