Comparative study of thermostimulated luminescence and electron emission of nitrogen nanoclusters and films

Abstract

We have studied thermostimulated luminenscence and electron emission of nitrogen films and nanoclusters containing atomic nitrogen free radicals. Thermostimulated electron emission from N₂ nanoclusters was ob-served for the first time. Thermostimulated luminescence spectra obtained during N₂–He sample destruction are similar to those detected from N₂ films pre-irradiated by an electron beam. This similarity reveals common mechanisms of energy transfer and relaxation. The correlation of the luminescence intensity and the electron cur-rent in both systems points to the important role of ionic species in relaxation cascades. A sublimation of solid helium shells isolating nitrogen nanoclusters is a trigger for the initiation of thermostimulated luminescence and electron emission in these nitrogen–helium condensates.