Action of Iron Oxide on the Emission Spectrum of Nitrogen-Mercury Systems excited by -Rays

Abstract

DURING a research on the synthesis of ammonia at room temperature under -ray bombardment and in presence of Fe₃O₄, we have found that the gas surrounding the -particle source emitted a relatively intense green glow. The -particle source was radon in a small thin glass bulb, through the walls of which the -particles could pass. The phenomenon is only observable when the iron oxide is reached by the -rays, and has been bombarded for several hours in a stoichiometric atmosphere (N₂ + 3H₂). When a certain amount of iron oxide has been thus in some manner promoted, it remains active in subsequent experiments, even if between two experiments it has been brought into contact with air.