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Kinetics associated with the decay of the low‐lying excited states of xenon is investigated in a density range 2.5×1018 to 2.5×1020 atoms cm−3 (pressure range between 104 and 106 Pa). Three different experiments are performed, i.e., two‐photon excitation of 6p atomic states or 0+g molecular states, VUV one‐photon excitation of the 6s[3/2]1 and 6s’[1/2]1 atomic states, and laser probing of intermediate transient species. The basic experimental data are the time‐resolved second continuum excimer fluorescence at ∼173 nm and the photoionization current. It is found that all excitation decays through 6s[3/2]1 or 6s[3/2]2 with a branching ratio 9/1. Part of the 6s[3/2]1 species (70%) decay subsequently via the 6s[3/2]2 level. The effectiveness of these atomic intermediate steps is directly demonstrated by the transient laser probing. This result, the time analysis, and the discussion allow to set a clear basis to the involved processes and to rule out part of the models proposed in the literature. In particular...