Fine-structure transitions in metastable Ne*(3P0,2) colliding with ground state rare gases at thermal energies

The emission of XUV photons from collision-induced fine-structure transitions Ne*(3P0,2)+R→Ne*(1,3P1)+R→Ne(1S)+R+hν(74 nm) has been measured for R=He, Ne, Ar, and Kr(1S) in a beam-cell experiment. The metastable Ne* velocity ranges from 550 to 1600 m/s. No emission was found for Ne*(3P0)+R. An appropriate detector system enables the determination of absolute 3P2 → 3P1 transition cross sections. The results of Ne*(3P2)+He and Ne are compared with theoretical calculations.