Quenching of O(1<i>S</i>) by O(3<i>P</i>)

Abstract

The rate constant for the quenching of O(1S) by O(3P) has been measured in a flow system using a pulsed source of O(1S) (1470 Å photolysis of N2O) and NO titration of flowing N atoms as a source of O(3P). The time dependence of the emission intensity of 5577 Å from O(1S) was measured as a function of O(3P) concentration. The rate constant derived from these data was 7.5 × 10−12 cm3 sec−1, a value larger than had been previously estimated. In addition, an estimated upper limit of the rate constant for quenching of O(1S) by ground state N atoms of 1× 10−12 cm3 sec−1 was obtained.