An Apparatus for Studying Phosphor Luminescence upon Excitation by Atomic–Molecular Beams

Abstract: The scheme, design, and hardware of a new laboratory apparatus for studying the interaction of beams of free atoms and molecules with the surfaces of phosphors are described. Methods for measuring the efficiency of electronic radiative processes on surfaces for studying the mechanisms of energy transfer and surface changes based on the spectral–kinetic characteristics of heterogeneous chemiluminescence are presented. Luminescent methods for studying the heterogeneous recombination of hydrogen atoms on the surfaces of solids allow one to explicitly select the impact (Rideal–Eley) and diffusion (Langmuir–Hinshelwood) recombination mechanisms and estimate the fraction of contributions of these mechanisms to the total recombination rate of atoms depending on the flow density of free atoms and the sample temperature. Examples of studying the spectra of the heterogeneous chemiluminescence (HCL) and photoluminescence (PL) at different temperatures of an AlN : Eu³⁺ phosphor under the excitation with hydrogen atoms and a mercury lamp are given. During processing of the kinetic curves of the HCL buildup and decay for ZnS : Tm³⁺ phosphor upon switching the Н + Н₂ atomic–molecular beam on and off, an example of obtaining the parameters of atomic–molecular processes on the surface (adsorption, impact and diffusion recombination of atoms, and desorption of hydrogen molecules) is presented.