Spin-Orbit Relaxation Rate of Bi(6p3, 2D3/2) following Photolysis of Bi(CH3)3 at λ = 193 nm

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100359a027

Rate coefficients for the collisional relaxation of the first excited spin-orbit state of (6p3, 2D3/2) have been measured at 295 K for Ar, CO2, SF6, H2, D2, HF, and DF.The excited Bi atoms were prepared by excimer laser photolysis of trimethylbismuth (TMB) at 193 nm and monitored directly in emission.The rate coefficient for quenching by the precursor TMB and a lower limit for removal by CH3 photofragments have also been established.Where applicable, our results are compared with the earlier work of Bevan and Husain and of Trainor.The suitability of long-range interaction models is discussed for those cases where isotopic substitution leads to markedly different quenching rates.