Kinetic studies of ArF* and Ar2F* in proton-excited Ar–F2 mixtures

A detailed neutral kinetic scheme for the production and quenching of ArF* and Ar2F* is provided from time-resolved and time-integrated spectra for proton-excited Ar–F2 mixtures at various partial pressures. The mechanism for the production of Ar2F* is concluded mainly from the three-body quenching of ArF* by argon. It is also found that the efficiency to produce ArF* by Ar2* (1u) with F2 is comparable to Ar(3P2) colliding with F2. The two-body quenching rate constants of ArF* and Ar2F* by F2, the three-body quenching rate constant of ArF* by Ar, and the radiative lifetime of Ar2F* are also obtained. The mechanism of ion–ion recombination to produce ArF* is briefly discussed.