Temperature dependence of the rate constants for deexcitation of Ar(1P1) and Ar(3P1) by SF6 and N2

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the deexcitation rate constants of the resonance states of Ar, 1P1 and 3P1, by SF6 and N2 has been measured in the temperature range from 133 to 300 K using a pulse radiolysis method, thus obtaining the collisional energy dependence of the deexcitation cross sections. The results of the cross sections for SF6 are compared with the Watanabe–Katsuura theory and good agreement is obtained. The results for N2 agree with predictions of the cross sections for a nonresonant case. It is concluded that a long-range dipole–dipole interaction is important in the deexcitation processes of Ar(1P1) and Ar(3P1) by SF6, but that a short-range interaction with curve crossing dominates in the deexcitation of Ar(1P1) and Ar(3P1) by N2.