Energy transfer between electronically excited zinc and calcium atoms

Journal Article · Thu Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Chem. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.441237· OSTI ID:6658528

Coombe, R D; Wodarczyk, F J; Horne, R K

A series of experiments have been performed in which zinc atoms carried in a flowing stream of helium are excited to the 4(/sup 3/P/sub 1/) state by optical pumping with a XeCl excimer laser. Addition of calcium atoms to the flow results in quenching of the excited zinc atoms. The cross section for this energy transfer process is sigma> or =3 x 10/sup -16/ cm/sup 2/, corresponding to Zn(4 /sup 3/P/sub J/) quenching in fewer than 10 collisons with calcium atoms. Subsequent to optical excitation of the zinc atoms, emission was observed from both the 4 /sup 1/P/sub 1/ and 5 /sup 3/S/sub 1/ excited states of calcium. Integration of the intensities of the calcium emissions indicated that excitation of the singlet and triplet manifolds in calcium occurs with comparable probability, suggesting that spin conservation is not a strong constraint in the energy transfer process. Summation of the intensities indicate that the E--E transfer process accounts for most of the quenching of the excited zinc atoms.

• Research Organization: Science Center, Rockwell International, Thousand Oaks, California 91360
• OSTI ID: 6658528
• Journal Information: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Chem. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 74:2; ISSN JCPSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOM-ATOM COLLISIONS
CALCIUM
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTRA
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXCITED STATES
METALS
OPTICAL PUMPING
PUMPING
SPECTRA
ZINC