Vacuum–UV fluorescence spectroscopy of GeF4 in the 10–25 eV range

Using synchrotron radiation in the 10–25 eV energy range, the vacuum–UV spectroscopy of GeF4 using fluorescence excitation and dispersed emission techniques is reported. Rydberg states that photodissociate to a fluorescing fragment are assigned, and dispersed emission spectra are recorded at the peak energies of the excitation spectrum. Three channels are observed: GeF2 ã 3B1–X̃ 1A1 phosphorescence, GeF2 à 1B1–X̃ 1A1 fluorescence, and emission from the GeF4+ D̃ 2A1 state. Both GeF2 ã 3B1 and à 1B1 probably form with F2, and not 2F, as the other product. Using single-bunch mode, lifetimes of the GeF2 à 1B1 and GeF4+ D̃ 2A1 states are measured to be 9.3±0.1 and 5.02±0.01 ns, respectively.