A study of the collisional quenching of O(2¹<i>D</i>₂) by the noble gases employing time‐resolved attenuation of atomic resonance radiation in the vacuum ultraviolet

Abstract

Abstract Electronically excited oxygen atoms O(2 1 D 2 ) have been generated by the pulsed irradiation of ozone in the Hartley‐band continuum and monitored photoelectrically in absorption by time‐resolved attenuation of atomic resonance radiation at λ = 115.2 nm [O(3 1 D 2 °) → O(2 1 D 2 )]. Collisional quenching of the excited atom has been investigated for all the noble gases, and the first absolute values for the second‐order deactivation rate constants are reported. The resulting rate data are discussed in terms of a curve‐crossing mechanism based on existing spectroscopic data for the noble gas oxides. The absolute rate constants are compared with previous relative rate data for the deactivation of O(2 1 D 2 ) by the noble gases.