QUENCHING OF 6P[3/2]1 AND 6P[5/2]2 LEVELS OF ATOMIC XENON BY RARE-GASES

The rates of quenching the 6p[3/2]1 and 6p[5/2]2 levels of atomic xenon by the rare gases have been measured. The quenching rates are obtained from the 6p fluorescence decay following two-photon excitation. Radiative lifetimes of the two ftp levels are also measured. Rates from quenching Xe 6p[5/2]2 by neon, argon, and krypton are larger by a factor of 5 to 40 than the same rates for Xe 6p[3/2]1. Quenching of 6p[5/2]2 by helium is found to be a factor of 12 smaller than it is for 6p[3/2]1 The implications of these rates for high-pressure atomic xenon laser kinetics are discussed. © 1990 IEEE