Collisional and radiational energy transfer in the system Na* (3 2P) + Na2 (X 1Σ+) → Na (3 2S) + Na2* (A 1Σ+)

Abstract

Abstract An experimental study of electronic energy transfer to electronic-plus-vibrational excitation, E → E, V, has been performed in the system Na* (3 2 P) + Na 2 (X 1 Σ + ) under low-pressure conditions. The Na* was produced in the chemical reaction F + Na 2 → NaF + Na*. Emission spectra of Na 2 (A-X) showed that Na 2 (A 1 Σ + ) was populated by collisional transfer. Na* + Na 2 → Na + Na 2 * , as well as by absorption of sodium D-line radiation. Simulations of the experimentally observed spectra indicated that both resonant and non-resonant channels contributed to the Na* + Na 2 , E → E, V collisional energy transfer. The relative contributions of the two pathways for collisional energy transfer were found to be = 20% resonant and 80% non-resonant.