Formation of Light‐Emitting Ag 2 and Ag 3 Species in the Course of Condensation of Ag Atoms with Ar

Fluorescent clusters : The agglomeration of Ag clusters resulting from the codeposition of Ag and Ar atoms onto a cold substrate is accompanied by light emission from deexcitation of intermediately formed electronically excited Ag 2 * and Ag 3 * species. The yield of chemiluminescence was investigated as a function of the deposition rates of Ag and Ar. The relative concentrations of Ag, Ag 2 , Ag 3 , and Ag 8 species were monitored by means of their fluorescence spectra, and it is concluded that the light‐emitting species are created by aggregation of Ag n clusters with n >8.