Optical spectra of binary rare-gas mixtures

The results of experimental and theoretical investigations of the properties of heteronuclear rare-gas dimers are presented. Spectra in the vacuum ultraviolet region received primary emphasis. It is shown that the bulk of the excitation energy stored by the low-temperature plasma of binary mixtures is released by the heteronuclear dimers in a narrow spectral band near atomic resonance lines. (reviews of topical problems)