# Discovery of dumbbell-shaped CsHe(n) exciplexes in solid ⁴He

14.02.2005
Published in:
• Physical Review Letters. - 2005, vol. 94, p. 063001
English We have observed several new spectral features in the ﬂuorescence of cesium atoms implanted in the hcp phase of solid helium following laser excitation to the 6²P states. Based on calculations of the emission spectra using semi empirical Cs-He pair potentials the newly discovered lines can be assigned to the decay of speciﬁc Cs*He(n) exciplexes: an apple-shaped Cs(AП(3/2))He₂ and a dumbbell-shaped Cs(AП(1/2))He(n) exciplex with a well-deﬁned number n of bound helium atoms. While the former has been observed in other environments, it was commonly believed that exciplexes with n>2might not exist. The calculations suggest Cs(AП(1/2))He₇ to be the most probable candidate for that exciplex, in which the helium atoms are arranged on a ring around the waist of the dumbbell-shaped electronic density distribution of the cesium atom.
Faculty
Faculté des sciences
Department
Physique
Language
• English
Classification
Physics