Collisional excitation of metastable oxygen O( 1D) atoms through the B3∑ −u channel of O 2

Abstract

Pectroscopic data on the shifts and widths of the energy levels of molecular oxygen have been used in the empirical construction of a diabatic potential matrix that characterizes the interactions of the B 3∑ − u state with the 5Π u, 2 3∑ + u, 3Π u and 1Π u states. The diabatic potential matrix is u theory formulation to calculate the cross-sections for the excitation of O( 1D) atoms in collisions of two O( 3P) atoms. Total cross-sections are obtained by adding the excitation from the 3Π g , channel. The rate coefficient for quenching of O( 1D) by O( 3P) is evaluated as a function of temperature. The values conflict with a recent analysis of the emission of the oxygen red line in the upper atmosphere.