Temperature dependence of de-excitation rate constants of He(23S) by Ne, Ar, Xe, H2, N2, O2, NH3, and CO2

Abstract

Reaction rate constants for the quenching of the 23S state of helium by Ne, Ar, Xe, H2, N2, O2, CO2, and NH3 have been measured as a function of temperature between 300 and 900°K in a flowing afterglow. All of these rate constants increased with temperature. This finding offers an explanation for the discrepancies among recently published values for the reaction rate constant of He(23S) with these gases obtained in different experiments.