Reaction and Deactivation of O(1D)

Relative rates for quenching of O(1D) to O(3P), and for removal of O(1D) by reaction, have been measured for various gases. O(1D) was produced by photolysis of O2 at 1470 Å. The rates were determined by measuring the variation of the production rate of O(3P) atoms as a function of the amounts of quenching and reactive gases added to the system. From limits set by the lack of detection of the 6300-Å line of the O(1D) → O(3P) transition, and the maximum rates of two-body reactions, the rate coefficients were put on an absolute basis. Except for Ar and He, all gases measured interact with O(1D) with rate coefficients ≥ 4 × 10−11 cm3 molecule−1·sec−1.