Excitation-transfer reaction of N 2(A 3Σ u+) with SO(X 3Σ −) and S 2(X 3Σ g−) and quenching rate constants of some sulfur- and halogen-containing molecules

Abstract

The reaction between N 2(A 3Σ u +, υ′ = 0) and SO(X 3Σ −) has been studied at room temperature. The total quenching rate constant is (1.2±0.2)×10 −10 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 and the SO(A 3Π) excitation rate constant is (0.5±0.2)×10 −10 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1. Although these rate constants have some absolute uncertainty because of the difficulty of measuring [SO], the SO+N 2(A) excitation-transfer reaction appears to be an efficient system for utilizing the energy of the metastable N 2(A) state. Less extensive results also are presented for excitation transfer between N 2(A) and S 2(X). The total quenching rate constant is ⋍6×10 −11 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 and the branching fraction for S 2(B 3Σ u −) formation is ⋍0.3. Total quenching rate constant is are reported for SO 2, SOCl 2, S 2Cl 2, Cl 2, Br 2, I 2 and ICl.