The production of excited metal ions in thermal energy charge transfer and Penning reactions

Some characteristics of thermal energy charge transfer and Penning reactions with excited state products are deduced from flowing afterglow studies of several such reactions. Relative excitation cross sections for individual excited states accessible to these reactions have been measured for the first time. New metal ion laser systems, some offering the prospect of CW laser action in the near ultraviolet, are proposed. Difficulties encountered in formulating theoretical predictions of the cross section for charge transfer into excited states are also discussed.