Absolute total fluorescence yields for the
KrF*(B,C) and XeF*(B,C) states have been determined from
pulse-electron-irradiated Kr/SF6 and Xe/SF6 gas
mixtures. By application of established formation and
quenching
mechanisms and rate constants, the KrF* yield has been resolved into
its two constituent components,
corresponding to exciplex formation by excited-state reaction of Kr
species and ionic recombination. The
initial yield of electronically excited krypton atoms that can react
with SF6, Kr* + SF6 → KrF* +
products,
was determined to be G
o* = 0.70 ± 0.10,
while the corresponding three-body ionic recombination
reaction,
Kr2
+ + SF6
- +
Kr → KrF* + products, gave G
o
+
= 1.70 ± 0.10. Analogous studies of the XeF*
emission
showed that ionic recombination is essentially the only formation
pathway, with a calculated initial fluorescence
yield for the reaction Xe2
+ +
SF6
- + Xe → XeF* + products of
G
o
+ = 0.26 ± 0.02. The
experimental
values are compared to the predictions of current theoretical models,
and the importance of alternative reaction
pathways is discussed.