Abstract

Electron impact dissociation of HgX₂ and CH₃HgX (X = Cl, Br, I) has been studied in the low energy range of 1–100 eV. In each case, the emission spectrum of the B–X band system of HgX radicals (X = Cl, Br, I) has been observed along with several atomic lines of mercury. By using the most intense bandhead of the B–X system of these radicals, an attempt has been made to measure the emission cross sections at different kinetic energies of the projectile electrons. These cross sections are in general agreement with some of the previously measured^1,2 cross sections. However, our measured cross sections are a factor of ~10³–10⁴ higher than those reported by Allision and Zare³ for the electron/HgX₂ and electron/CH₃HgX collisions, respectively.

© 1987 Optical Society of America