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Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 2992 - 2995 (2001)

Ag8 Fluorescence in Argon

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C. Félix, C. Sieber, W. Harbich, and J. Buttet
Institut de Physique Expérimentale, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

I. Rabin, W. Schulze, and G. Ertl
Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany

Received 5 December 2000

The fluorescence of Ag8 in an argon matrix and in argon droplets is reported. This is the first unambiguous assignment of the fluorescence of a metal cluster larger than the tetramer, indicating that the excited state lifetime is longer than previously thought. It is discussed as a possible result of a matrix cage effect. The excitation spectrum is compared with two-photon-ionization measurements of Ag8 in helium droplets and to known absorption data. The agreement is excellent. We propose that the excited states relax rapidly through vibrational coupling to a long-lived state, from which the fluorescence occurs.


©2001 The American Physical Society

URL: http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.2992
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.2992
PACS: 36.40.Mr, 36.40.Vz, 61.46.+w

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